System an method for selecting and associating categories tags with content

ABSTRACT

System and method for presenting the structured and categories tags includes presenting a user interface that includes the one or more tags, wherein tags comprises system or user created structured and categories tags; enabling the user to select one or more tags from said categories list of tags for associating or relating or assigning said selected one or more tags with said prepared content; receiving input from the user indicating an association between content and at least one of the tags and in response to the input representing the association, associating the content and at least one of the tags; storing association data representing the association between the content and at least one of the tags; and presenting the structured and categories tags includes presenting a user interface that includes structured and categories tags for enabling viewing user to view user selected tag specific contents.

COPYRIGHTS INFORMATION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to (copyright or mask work) protection. The (copyrightor mask work) owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction byanyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears inthe Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all (copyright or mask work) rights whatsoever. The applicantacknowledges the respective rights of various Intellectual propertyowners.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to Systems and Methods for Global OnlineBrands Social Networks (BSN) Platform and Framework for managingmultiple Brands Networks, Users and customers brands use managementincluding creating and joining Brand Networks, managing Brand NetworksMembers, Administrators, Collaborative and Federated Brands Networks,User's Friends, Brands Group Lists, applications and services andcontent editing, publishing, submission, storage, retrieval, searching.Brands and related Brands Networks include branded products and servicesor products and services lines used or want to be used by users from oneor more brand owners including any retailer, manufacturer, seller,dealer, distributor, firm, company, institute, college, school,publisher, organization, web site, shop, mall and enabled by any legalentities including patent, copyright and trademark, collectivetrademarks, service mark, certification mark, logo, known, localpopular, and other country specific legal intellectual laws. It's allabout who uses and wants to use what, where, when, why, how and relatedall services, applications and shared contents. Users can createmultiple brands group list and manage portfolio of brands that user useor want to use. Multiple Brand owners offer multiple services andapplication to customers or prospective customers or brand networkmembers and manage related brands networks. BSN is all in one pre,during and post sales or before, during and after purchase customerservices including brands related sales, e-commerce, marketing,promotion, support, information, knowledge, user generated contents andservices including suggestion, guidance, answer, support, blogs andlike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a novel Internet-based methodof and system for managing portfolio of user's brands and user or brandowner created brand networks and marketing branded products and servicesthereto. The present invention relates to a web-based informationsharing system; and more particularly, to a computer interface enablingcompanies and consumers to share brand information, knowledge and offerservices like sales, e-commerce, marketing and promoting brands over theWorld Wide Web. BSN platform facilitates B2B, B2C, C2B and C2C sales,marketing, promotions and e-commerce transactions.

Brands or trademarks serve as identifiers of products and services, andserve to distinguish a products and services of one source provider fromanother. The owner of a brand uses it to ensure that customers recognizethe source of products and that it is an indication of a consistentlevel of the product's quality. Consumers can rely on a given brand toindicate the nature and quality to which the consumer has becomeaccustomed. In recent years consumer choices among branded good haveexpanded enormously. It is well recognized that branded goods andservices are of significant and increasing importance in trading in thegrowing global economy.

Brands were originally developed as labels of ownership: name, term,design, and symbol. However, today it is what they do for people thatmatters much more, how they reflect and engage them, how they definetheir aspiration and enable them to do more. Powerful brands can drivesuccess in competitive and financial markets, and indeed become theorganization's most valuable assets.

A trademark or trade mark or service mark (represented by the symbol ™)or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator of some kind which is used byan individual, business organization or other legal entity to identifyuniquely the source of its products and/or services to consumers, and todistinguish its products or services from those of other entities. Atrademark is a type of intellectual property, and typically a name,word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of theseelements. There is also a range of non-conventional trademarkscomprising marks which do not fall into these standard categories.

Terms such as “mark”, “brand” and “logo” are sometimes usedinterchangeably with “trademark”. However, the terms “brands” and“branding” raise distinct conceptual issues and are generally moreappropriate for use in marketing or advertising context.

The Internet has become a new medium for finding and/or displayinginformation of all types, including information about products,services, and locations. The most common process through whichinformation on the Internet (collectively referred to as “Content”) isdiscovered is using Internet Search Engines (“Search Engines”). Contentincludes but is not limited to all information, communications, media,leaders, websites, images, tags, meta tags, domain names, applications,and the like, whether displayed on or through the Internet or throughother methods and media. Search Engines are typically operated by majorInternet companies (“Search Companies”) that specialize or provideinternet search (“Internet Search” or “Search”) as all or a portion oftheir content and value to internet users, such as Google, Yahoo, andMSN. Search Companies operate Search Engines in order to presentInternet users (“Internet Users”) relevant information (“SearchResults”) on search engine results pages and other Internet pages.

Internet Search has created several new industries described below, yetit is still in its infancy, and, for a variety of reasons, InternetSearch is arguably less effective today than it was a few years ago. Asdiscussed in more detail below, Search Companies face many new anddaunting challenges trying to ensure that their Search Engines provideInternet Users relevant and compelling Search Results. These challengesinclude: a) the prolific, exponential growth in both the depth andbreadth of Content, b) the rapid pace of changing Content, c) thedifficulty of interpreting (or parsing) search requests (“SearchRequests”) by a variety of Internet Users, d) the depth, breadth anddynamic nature of terms, keywords, phrases, and/or other search terms(“Search Terms”) used in Search Requests, e) the need to develop andmaintain a taxonomy of Search Terms, and g) the increase in the numberand complexity of Content pages that are generated dynamically insteadof containing static, and more easily crawlable and/or indexableContent. All of these challenges are associated with providing relevantand optimized Search. One of the increasingly popular types of InternetSearches are local Internet searches (“Local Searches”) that are focusedon finding local stores, products, and/or information near a specificlocation, usually near the Internet User conducting the Search. In mostcases, these types of Internet Users are seeking information about whereto buy products and services at stores near where the Internet Users areor are going to be. Location adds a new element to Internet Searches,and Search Companies are just now focusing on the unique nature andchallenges of Local Searches.

Presently, an enormous amount of time, money and effort are expendeddaily by thousands of manufacturers and retailers to market, brand,advertise and sell their products and services to consumers in bothregional and global markets. Billions of dollars are spent each year bymanufacturer brands to inform, influence, and persuade consumers to buyand consume their branded products and services.

To create demand for their products and services, Client/brands enlistadvertising and marketing agencies to achieve greater leverage andcapacity to reach and influence empowered consumers to buy theirproducts and consume their services.

While the potential for marketing efficacy is highest at the retailpoint-of-sale, manufacturer brands typically have little or no controlover the consumer experience with their branded products, and thisaspect of brand control resides with the online retailer. And asconsumers turn to their favorite retail websites to find productinformation, promotions, and ultimately to purchase products, theopportunity for brands to truly engage consumers at the online retailpoint of sale is neither available or possible, unless the manufacturerbrand controls and operates its own e-commerce enabled retail site.

To make online marketing even more difficult for client/brands and theiragencies, most online retailers avoid the use of push-type marketingtechnologies such as pop-up and banner advertisements on theire-commerce sites, as these marketing technologies are general. They areannoying to consumers, and fail to deliver relevant messaging to theconsumer considering a product purchase.

With the growing ineffectiveness of traditional marketing mediums andthe unrealized potential of online retail point of sale, a great needhas arisen in the global marketplace for a better way of, and means forenabling manufacturer client/brands and their marketing agencies to moreeffectively and efficiently reach, serve and influence empoweredconsumers at online points of purchase consideration and sale, so as toprovide consumers with improved service and better brand experiences atthe online point of sale, while helping online retailers build their ownbrands, reduce online store overhead, and drive sales, while avoidingthe shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art systems and methodologies.

Since the development of the WWW and its enabling information fileformats and communication protocols, a number of Internet-basedadvertising systems and networks have been developed and deployed in theworld of consumer product and service advertising and promotion.Examples of commercially-available Internet-based advertising andpromotion systems include: (http://www.realmedia.com); theDoubleClick“Internet Advertising Sales, Advertising-Management And MediaServices Network by DoubleClick, Inc. (http://www.doubleclick.com) whichemploy its proprietary DART‘technology for collecting and analyzingaudience behavior, predicting which ads will be most effective, measuresad effectiveness, and providing data for Web publishers and advertisers;the Adfusion”’Integrated Advertising Marketing, Sales and ManagementSystem by Adfusion, Inc. (http://www.adfusion.com) which integrates allphases of the media buying process including media research andplanning, media inventory and yield management, secure onlinenegotiation, the transaction execution, and tracking and post-campaignreporting; and the Promotions. On-Line Promotion System byPromotions.com, Inc. (http://www.promotions.com) formerly Webstakes.com,which develops customized online promotions for clients providingtechnology and consulting services necessary to run the promotions onclients' own Web sites, and offering direct marketing e-mail servicesusing a database of customer profiles.

Consumers are now ready for an online environment in which they cancreatively express and communicate their feelings about products asmembers of a virtual community.

The manufacturer, distributor, and/or producer (hereinafter, the“promoter”) of products or services, particularly consumer products orservices, generally seeks to have its products available to the consumerin as many purchasing environments as possible at a competitive price.

A brand community is a community formed on the basis of attachment to aproduct. Recent developments in marketing and in research in consumerbehavior result in stressing the connection between brand, individualidentity and culture. Among the concepts developed to explain thebehavior of consumers, the concept of a brand community focuses on theconnections between consumers. A brand community can be defined as anenduring self-selected group of actors sharing a system of values,standards and representations (a culture) and recognizing bonds ofmembership with each other and with the whole. It is a specialized,non-geographically bound community, based on a structured set of socialrelations among admirers of a brand. Brand communities are characterizedin shared consciousness, rituals and traditions, and a sense of moralresponsibility. “Brand community” is the term used to describelike-minded consumers who identify with a particular brand and sharesignificant traits, which describe as “shared consciousness, rituals,traditions, and a sense of moral responsibility.” The researchers showthat consumers may organize into these communities to share theirexperiences of a brand. Conversely, consumers in an identifiable brandcommunity represent a cohesive group that reflects the brand's values. Abrand community model for marketing includes prospects considering abrand choice, non-committals who choose out of convenience or habit withno real preference, brand admirers who truly prefer a brand, and brandenthusiasts who both prefer and refer. In a world where advertising islosing credibility, consumers are looking for other sources oftrust—communities provide an answer. Friendship is one of the strongestbonds of trust. We trust our friends' recommendations, advice andexperience. Think about the last movie you saw, restaurant you ate at orbook that you read. Chances are a friend recommended them, and you mayvery likely recommend them to another. The future of those brands thattake their market seriously and question the influence of traditionalabove-the-line advertising, will be considering establishing a brandcommunity where word-of-mouth will do the talking. These personaltestimonials will guarantee the results, and media money will be spenton people rather than on creating ads and commercials. When managedproperly, brand communities could prove to be that elusive new tool totackle the ever growing competition. Brand communities not only allowcompanies to collaborate with customers in all phases of valuecreation—product design, pricing, places of availability, and phases ofpromotion—but also provide companies an effective platform on which toengage customers and create loyalty towards the brand. Some of thesequalities are shared vision and mission with customers, A platform forcustomer partnership, A platform for brand community, An emerging brandvalue network, Openness and accessibility, 1:1 customer relationships,Active customer participation.

Direct marketing is a sub-discipline and type of marketing. It attemptsto send its messages directly to consumers, without the use ofintervening media. This involves commercial communication (direct mail,e-mail, and telemarketing) with consumers or businesses, usuallyunsolicited and is focused on driving purchases that can be attributedto a specific “call-to-action.” This aspect of direct marketing involvesan emphasis on trackable, measurable positive (but not negative)responses from consumers (known simply as “response” in the industry)regardless of medium.

Database marketing is a form of direct marketing using databases ofcustomers or potential customers to generate personalized communicationsin order to promote a product or service for marketing purposes. Themethod of communication can be any addressable medium, as in directmarketing. Database marketing emphasizes gathering all availablecustomer, lead, and prospect information into a central database andusing statistical techniques to develop models of customer behavior,which are then used to select customers for communications.

Personalized marketing (also called personalization, and sometimescalled one-to-one marketing) is an extreme form of productdifferentiation. Whereas product differentiation tries to differentiatea product from competing ones, personalization tries to make a uniqueproduct offering for each customer. Personalized marketing had been mostpractical in interactive media such as the internet. A web site cantrack a customer's interests and make suggestions for the future. Manysites help customers make choices by organizing information andprioritizing it based on the individual's liking. In some cases, theproduct itself can be customized using a configuration system.

Direct response marketing is a form of marketing designed to solicit adirect response which is specific and quantifiable. The delivery of theresponse is direct between the viewer and the advertiser, that is, thecustomer responds to the marketer directly. This is in contrast todirect marketing in which the marketer contacts the potential customerdirectly. In direct marketing (such as telemarketing), there is nointermediary broadcast media involved (which is why it is calleddirect). In direct response marketing, marketers use broadcast media toget customers to contact them directly. It is direct response marketingbecause the communications from the customer to the marketer is direct,and this differentiates it from direct marketing in which thecommunications from the marketer to the customer is direct.

Internet marketing, also referred to as online marketing, Internetadvertising, eMarketing (or e-Marketing), is the marketing of productsor services over the Internet. When it applies to the subset of websitebased ad placements it is commonly referred to as Web advertising(Webvertising), and/or Web Marketing. The Internet has brought manyunique benefits to marketing including low costs in distributinginformation and media to a global audience. The interactive nature ofInternet marketing, both in terms of instant response and in elicitingresponse, are unique qualities of the medium. Internet marketing tiestogether creative and technical aspects of the internet, includingdesign, development, advertising and sales. Internet marketing methodsand strategies encompass a wide range of services such as search enginemarketing (SEM) which can be broken down into search engine optimization(SEO) and pay per click (PPC), display advertising, text-basedadvertising, behavioral marketing, software-based ads, e-mail marketing,newsletter marketing, Customer Relationship Management Marketingaffiliate marketing, web press releases, interactive advertising, onlinereputation management(ORM), online market research, and also SocialMedia Marketing Methods such as blog marketing, multivariate testing oroptimization and viral marketing. When compared to the ratio of costagainst the reach of the target audience, Internet marketing isrelatively inexpensive. Companies can reach a wide audience for a smallfraction of traditional advertising budgets. The nature of the mediumallows consumers to research and purchase products and services at theirown convenience. Therefore, businesses have the advantage of appealingto consumers in a medium that can bring quick results. Emphasizebusiness goals and use methods such as CVP analysis when determiningstrategy and the overall effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Benefitsof It includes One-to-one approach i.e. The targeted user is typicallybrowsing the Internet alone, so the marketing messages can reach thempersonally. This is seen in search marketing, where the advertisementsare based on keywords entered by the user in a search engine and appealsto a specific behavior or interest, instead of broadly reaching out at adefined demographic.

Social media describes the online technologies and practices that peopleuse to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with eachother. Social media can take many different forms, including Internetforums, message boards, weblogs, wikis, podcasts, pictures and video.Technologies include: blogs, events, social bookmarking, social news,opinion sites, photo and video sharing, livecasting, podcasting,publishing, game sharing, virtual world, social ads., picture-sharing,vlogs, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, crowdsourcing, and voice over IP, to name a few. Examples of social mediaapplications are Google Groups (reference, social networking), Wikipedia(reference and collaboration), MySpace (social networking), Facebook(social networking), YouTube (social networking and video sharing),Second Life (virtual reality), Flickr (photo sharing), Twitter (socialnetworking and microblogging).

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce or eCommerce, consistsof the buying and selling of products or services over electronicsystems such as the Internet and other computer networks. The amount oftrade conducted electronically has grown extraordinarily since thespread of the Internet. It is also called “e-business,” “e-tailing” and“I-commerce.” E-commerce is a type of business model, or segment of alarger business model, that enables a firm or individual to conductbusiness over an electronic network, typically the internet. Electroniccommerce operates in all four of the major market segments: business tobusiness, business to consumer, consumer to consumer and consumer tobusiness. Ecommerce has allowed firms to establish a market presence, orto enhance an already larger market position, by allowing for a cheaperand more efficient distribution chain for their products or services.

Brand Engagement is a term loosely used to describe the process offorming an attachment (emotional and rational) between a person and abrand. It comprises one aspect of brand management. What makes the topiccomplex is that brand engagement is partly created by institutions andorganizations, but is equally created by the perceptions, attitudes,beliefs and behaviors of those with whom these institutions andorganizations are communicating or engaging with. As a relatively newaddition to the marketing and communication mix, brand engagement sitsin the space between marketing, advertising, media communication, socialmedia, organizational development, internal communications and humanresource management.

Brand engagement between a brand and its consumers/potential consumersis a key objective of a brand marketing effort. In general, the ways abrand connects to its consumer is via a range of “touchpoints”—that is,a sequence or list of potential ways the brand makes contact with theindividual. Examples include retail environments, advertising, word ofmouth, online, and the product/service itself.

Spend management is the way in which companies control and optimize themoney they spend. It involves cutting operating and other costsassociated with doing business. Whether it is the money spent on goodsor services for direct inputs, indirect material or products andservices.

A buyer (i.e. an individual at a company that has determined a need fora particular product) will develop a document that lists the need (i.e.the type of product they need and why), specifications, the biddingprocess (how the process will work and how suppliers will be scored),rules for the bidding process, and other factors. Buyers will theninvite suppliers to register online, and open the event for a set periodof time so that suppliers can bid. At the end, the buyer awards thecontract to one of several suppliers. The award can be based on price,delivery time (the time it takes the supplier to fulfill an order), orother factors such as quality or how closely the product meets theneeds.

A reverse auction (also called procurement auction, e-auction, sourcingevent, e-sourcing or eRA) is a tool used in industrialbusiness-to-business procurement. It is a type of auction in which therole of the buyer and seller are reversed, with the primary objective todrive purchase prices downward.

CRM (customer relationship management) is an information industry termfor methodologies, software, and usually Internet capabilities that helpan enterprise manage customer relationships in an organized way. Forexample, an enterprise might build a database about its customers thatdescribed relationships in sufficient detail so that management,salespeople, people providing service, and perhaps the customer directlycould access information, match customer needs with product plans andofferings, remind customers of service requirements, know what otherproducts a customer had purchased, and so forth.

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a multifaceted process,mediated by a set of information technologies that focuses on creatingtwo-way exchanges with customers so that firms have an intimateknowledge of their needs, wants, and buying patterns. In this way, CRMhelps companies understand, as well as anticipate, the needs of currentand potential customers. Functions that support this business purposeinclude sales, marketing, customer service, training, professionaldevelopment, performance management, human resource development, andcompensation. Customer service (also known as Client Service) is theprovision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.Customer Intelligence Management can be defined as the act of capturing,managing, analyzing and applying customer information for profitablegrowth.

Customer relationship management (CRM) generally relates to existingcustomer base of branded products or services. Data of customer base isgenerally private and not available to public. Customers cannotcommunicate, collaborate and share their experience, thought, idea witheach other in social way. It does not identify new customer base andidentify new or competitors market share or customer base of same lineof products or services and communicate and attract them. BSN platformprovides universal online social customers relation, retention andreadymade new customer base management system including finding newcustomer base from existing market segmentation, multi social brandsnetworks with application and services provides all-in-one sourceservices to customer for their before, during and after purchaserequirement and end to end buying or shopping or service subscription oruse solution.

Now generally each Brand Owners maintain their online presence viacorporate full features web site or portal which covers everything likeproducts and services information, sales, e-commerce, marketing andpromoting the brands. But customers or prospective customers or brandedproducts and/or services users have to visit each time all differentsites for their different products and services needs. What is needed,therefore, are methods and systems for bottom to top approach where userdisclose which branded products and service they use and want to use orfuture use via creating portfolio of brands and manage brands grouplists and related brand owner's brands networks which provide servicesto customer or prospective customers including sales, e-commerce,support, promotion and marketing of branded products and/or services.

Thus, it is clear that there is great need in the art for an improvedmethod of and apparatus for enabling multiple brand owners to managebrands social networks and provide one source products and servicesrelated sales, e-commerce, promotion, support and marketingcommunications to customers or prospective customers anywhere along theWorld Wide Web (WWW), while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks ofprior art systems and methodologies.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide GlobalOnline Platform and Framework for Brands Social Networks (BSN) wherebrand owners and users or customers or prospective customers can createor generate categories Brands Groups Lists or disclose or submit orpublish portfolio of use or want to use brands and create or join brandsrelated brand networks and communicate and collaborate with other sameor same line or same category brands users or brand customers or brandnetworks members and share knowledge, information, experience. Users ormembers or customers or prospective customers can transact with allneeded brands in one place for their wide range of purchase requirementslike pre(before)-purchase requirements including knowledge, information,comparison, search, match, guidance, suggestion, review, feedback,experience, enquiry, presentation and answer, during purchaserequirements including presentation, negotiation, comparison, trainingand learning, e-commerce, sales and marketing, promotion, productlocators and post(after)-purchase requirements including support,notifications of updates, new arrivals, exchange offers.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to provide onesource universal collaborative and federated social customersrelationships, retention and readymade target customer base management(SCRM) and customers brands use management for multiple brands relatedproducts and services from multiple sources.

Yet another important objective of the present invention is to provideone source all services and supports require for implementing each stepsor phase of Collaborative and Federated Customers Services Life Cycle(CSLC) for multiple brands networks or branded products and servicesowners. Customers Services Life Cycle (CSLC) phase includes RequirementsPhase to Identify a need for a products and services, Determine therequirements for the product, Find the product that will meet therequirements. It Provides answers to What is this thing, Why would Iwant it, Which one is right for me, How much will I need. BSN Platformfacilitates in Product and Services Advertising, Product Demonstration,Product Comparison/evaluation, Product requirements/specs. InAcquisition Phase, Identify the product sources, Evaluate the productsin the market, Order the product, Pay for the product, Test and acceptthe product. It Provides answers to Where do I get it, How do I orderit, How do I take possession, How do I pay for it, How do I test andinstall it. BSN Platform facilitates in Finding source & availability,Malls, Search engines, Advertising, Online customization, ordering,payment, Product delivery, Online delivery of digital products, linkageto carrier for physical delivery, Product installation, FAQ's fortroubleshooting & installation. In Ownership Phase, Learn to use theproduct effectively, Monitor use of the product, Upgrade the product,maintain the product. It Provides answers to How do I train people touse it, How do I maintain it, Where do I take it for maintenance, How doI get an upgrade. BSN Platform facilitates to provide online tutorialsand training sessions to learn to use the product, Provide onlinetroubleshooting support, Get online feedback from customer for productdesign enhancements, Monitor the use and remind for upgrade orreplenishment, Aftersales service. In Retirement Phase, Dispose theproduct—resell or return, Account for the resources, Replace the retiredproduct, Evaluating the product. BSN Platform facilitates to create aused product market to facilitate reselling, Provide accounting serviceand discounts for usage, Create options for returning old product for anew one. Thus Multi Brand Customers Services Life Cycle (MCSLC) supportscustomers in Pre-purchase including Products and services search &discovery, Comparison shopping & selection, Negotiation—price, deliveryetc., while Purchase including order placement, payment, receipt andPost-purchase including customer service, warranty, return etc. BSNPlatform facilitates Presales interaction including Customer inquiry &order planning, Cost estimation and pricing, while purchase and Productsand services delivery including order receipt & entry, order selection,prioritization, order scheduling, order fulfillment and delivery andPost sales including Order billing & payment management, Customerservice and support.

Yet another important objective of the present invention is to provideone source products and services supports, information, knowledge,comparison, advertising, marketing, sales, promotion, e-commerceservices to the customers.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to provideSearch, Match and Compare Engine to search the Branded products andservices and related contents resources.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to providemultiple brands communities or brand social networking capability tousers to easily share, communicate and collaborate with other sameproduct and services line brand users and brand owners.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to provideplatform to facilitate creation of brands related User Generated orCreated Contents (UGC) or Consumer Generated Content (CGC) includingblog, article, comments, video, photos, presentation, stories and otherresources.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to enablebrand users to create or generate brands user specific personalizedPortfolio of Brands Use List or Need or Wish List in form of categoriesBrands Group Lists which are shared, private and public editable andrelate brands networks which provide Knowledgebase, information,support, social network resource like which friend uses my same brandand discuss and share ideas, opinions, suggestion and experience withmembers. Users get all-in-one multiple services and resources frommultiple sources including brand owners, experts, brand network members,friends, friends' friends, Brands Social Networks (BSN) and 3^(rd) partypartners.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to providebenefits to Users so that users can use global online brands socialnetworks platform in multiple useful way before, during and afterpurchase of products and services including what's new, alternative andbest, location of availability, comparative analysis, what is advance,friend users, knowledge, experience, guidance, suggestions, answers,information, features, how to use, User to User or Customer to Customersupport, health related issues in products and services use by users.User can participate actively with brand social networks and sharethoughts with other user or prospective users.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to providesbenefits to Brand owner so that Brand owner of products and servicesknows and retains their customer base and attracts new customers byproviding support, sales, promotion, marketing, e-commerce, contest,survey, poll, article, blogs and other services and activities. Brandowner can start or integrate corporate brand related social networkingfor existing customers or prospective customers.

Yet another significant aspect of the present invention is to provideadvertisers a new type of advertising and brand building systems thatinclude targeted advertising system, collaborative advertising system,competitive advertising system, advertising partnership via newadvertising network system where selected brands social networksintegrate with partners' portals or sites or products as per preferencesand sites contents and services match-making with brand networkscategory and contents.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to understandConsumer behavior including how people buy, what they buy, when they buyand why they buy. It attempts to understand the buyer decision makingprocess, both individually and in groups. It studies characteristics ofindividual consumers such as demographics, psychographics, andbehavioral variables in an attempt to understand people's wants. It alsotries to assess influences on the consumer from groups such as family,friends, reference groups, and society in general. BSN platformfacilitates searching for, selecting, purchasing, using, evaluating, anddisposing of products and services so as to satisfy their needs anddesires including the consumer searches for information required to makea purchase decision from personal sources, commercial sources, publicsources and personal experience, to compare various brands and products,to decide which brand to purchase and to evaluate their purchasedecision.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to facilitateengagement of customers with one another, with a company or a brand. Theinitiative for engagement can be either consumer or company-led and themedium of engagement can be online. Leveraging customer contributions isan important source of competitive advantage—whether throughadvertising, user generated product reviews, customer service FAQs,forums where consumers can socialize with one another or contribute toproduct development. Customers engage via Bookmarking, Tagging, Addingto group, Collaborative Filtering like Rating, Voting, Commenting,Endorsing, Favouritising, Content Creation like Upload (User GeneratedContent), Blogging, Fan community participation, Create mash-ups,Podcasting, Vlogging and Adding Friends, Networking, Create FanCommunity and like. Highly engaged customers are loyal and can givevaluable recommendations for improving quality of offering, filter,categorize and rate the market from head to tail and help in tagging,reviewing, rating and recommending and word of Mouth advertising. BSNfacilitates customers engagement via Encouraging collaborativefiltering, Community development, Community participation, Helpconsumers engage with one another, Solicitation of user generatedcontent, Customer self-service and provides customer engagement metricslike Root metrics including Duration of visit, Frequency of visit, %repeat visits, Recency of visit, Depth of visit (% of site visited),CTR, Sales, Lifetime value and Action metrics including RSS feedsubscriptions, Bookmarks, tags, ratings, Viewing of high-value ormedium-value content. ‘Depth’ of visit can be combined with thisvariable to include Inquiries, Providing personal information,Downloads, Content, re-syndication, Customer reviews, Comments (theirquality is another indicator of the degree of engagement) and Ratiobetween posts and comments plus trackbacks and is useful for planninglike identify where CE-marketing efforts should take place; which of thecommunities that the target customers participate in are the mostengaging?, specify the way in which target customers engage, or want toengage, with the company or offering and measuring effectiveness and howsuccessful CE-marketing efforts have been at engaging target customers.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to facilitatemarket segment identification, segment characterization, segmentevaluation and target segment selection. The overall intent is toidentify groups of similar customers and potential customers; toprioritize the groups to address; to understand their behavior; and torespond with appropriate marketing strategies that satisfy the differentpreferences of each chosen segment. Improved segmentation can lead tosignificantly improved marketing effectiveness. Variables Used forSegmentation include Geographic variables like region of the world orcountry, East, West, South, North, Central, coastal, hilly, etc.,country size like Metropolitan Cities, small cities, towns, Density ofArea like Urban, Semi-urban, Rural, climate like Hot, Cold, Humid,Rainy, Demographic variables like age, gender (Male and Female), familysize, family life cycle, education (Primary, High School, Secondary,College, Universities), income, occupation, socioeconomic status,religion, nationality/race, language, Psychographic variables likepersonality, life style, value, attitude, Behavioral variables likebenefit sought, product usage rate, brand loyalty, product end use,readiness-to-buy stage, decision making unit, Profitability, incomestatus.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to facilitateco-branding via federated brands networks including co-branding with asingle product or service with more than one brand name. Co-branding issame-company co-branding i.e. when a company with more than one productpromotes their own brands together simultaneously, Joint ventureco-branding when two or more companies going for a strategic alliance topresent a product to the target audience. E.g. British Airways andCitibank formed a partnership offering a credit card where the cardowner will automatically become a member of the British Airway'sExecutive club and multiple sponsors co-branding. This form ofco-branding involves two or more companies working together to form astrategic alliance in technology, promotions, sales, etc. e.g.Citibank/American Airlines/Visa credit card partnership.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to provideMarket research facility for systematically gathering, recording andanalyzing data and information about customers, competitors and themarket. Its uses include helping create a business plan, launch a newproduct or service, fine tune existing products and services, and expandinto new markets.

Another significant objective of the present invention is to integrateBSN platform with partners' web sites or portal or products or servicesas per preferences and mutual agreements and integrate as a serviceswith 3rd party products, services and business process including ERP,spend management, customer relationship management (CRM) and like.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, andwhich show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments by which theinvention may be practiced. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Amongother things, the present invention may be embodied as methods ordevices. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take themeanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein doesnot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.Furthermore, the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does notnecessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, asdescribed below, various embodiments of the invention may be readilycombined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or”operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive andallows for being based on additional factors not described, unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout thespecification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferences. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

Moreover, the present invention makes use of the following terms,definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations for describing the GlobalOnline Brands Social Networks (BSN) Platform and Framework.

Content: Generally, content refers to virtually any material that may beprovided for use within an internet website, including, but not limitedto text, music, pictures, graphics, cartoons, audio narratives, videos,movies, or the like. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, thecontent can further include articles and/or images. For example, thecontent can also include videos, pictures, logos, illustrations,animations, music, audio recordings, source code, pseudo code, messages,emails, alerts, instant messages, or virtually any other type of contentthat can be digitally represented. Moreover, content may be consideredto be independent of its format. Thus, content may include any of avariety of formats, including, without limit, image files, video files,audio files, documents, database files, spreadsheets, Hypertext MarkupLanguage (HTML) files, or the like. Content may also be classified asuser generated content “UGC.”

User: Various entities may perform actions, or assume particular roles.While typically, an entity may assume a single role, the invention isnot so constrained, and an entity may also assume a plurality of rolesor personae. Thus, within the present invention, a “User” is member ofone or more Brand Networks or “User” is “Friends” of other user or“User” is Brand Owner's administrator or “User is “Experts” or “User” isdeveloper of the applications and services or “User” is partner of theGlobal Online Brands Social Networks. The terms “administrator” or“admin” refer to those entities whose primary role includes establishingthe editorial workflows and/or creating accounts, and managing thearchitecture for the BSN for use by editors and/or authors. The terms“end-user,” and “user” refer to those entities that may register for useof the BSN, and typically provide “user generated contents”. While anentity typically represents a person, the invention is not so limited.Thus, an entity may include virtually any person, group of persons,businesses, organizations, or even a computing structure including aprogram, or the like.

Global Online Brands Social Networks: Is a platform and framework formanaging the profiles of platform users and brand networks, multiplebrands related networks, brand network's members, brand network related“user generated contents” or publications, brand network specificapplication and platform applications and services.

Brand: Brand comprises plurality of products and services, products andservices line within a product and service category used by users fromany retailer, manufacturer, sellers, firm, company, institute, college,schools, organization, web site, shop, mall and enabled by any legalentities including patent, copyright and trademark, collectivetrademarks, certification mark, logo, known, locally popular, and othercountry specific legal laws.

Brand Network and Brand Network Page: Brand network is user or expert orbrand owner administrator or BSN system administrator-createdbrand-specific public or private or trusted social networks. Any user ofglobal brands networks platform can join existing public network or joinor create new or private networks. Brand network includes brand networkpage and details, administrators' activities, news and notifications,statistics, joined network members' profiles, publications of user orexpert or brand-owner-generated contents and attached applications andservices. Brand network owner's administrator invites users to join,become a member of the network, advertise and promote the brand network.Network members can submit or publish the contents or use contentspublished by other members, participate in the brand network specificapplications e.g. survey, poll, contest, use custom applications forauthoring blogs, articles, stories and use services provided by brandowners like e-commerce, support, marketing, answer.

User and User Page: User is a Registered User of Global Social BrandsNetworks Platform and can be general, premium, partner, expert user andbrand owner's administrators including one or more individuals, team orassociation, collaboration of one or more pre-identified individuals andone or more entities including but not limited to company, associations,organization, professional bodies, social bodies, shops, manufacturer,wholesaler, supplier, dealers and distributor, web site, portal,research agency, governmental bodies and enterprises or an entity thatexists as a particular and discrete unit. Each user has a home page anda profile page. User administration of profile page includes editingprofiles and extended profiles, accounting settings, setting privacy forsearch, profile and content publishing, distribution, subscribing,communication and collaboration. Users search, find, add and invitefriends. User can create and/or generate (N) number of Brands GroupLists, create and become a member of (N) numbers of public and privatebrand networks and publish and subscribe network specific contents,participate with network specific activities like polls, survey, events,contest. Profile page includes user's all friends, friends lists, alluser's created and joined public and private networks, friends in othernetworks, profile details, user's and friends status and news, profilestatistics, user's publications list, applications attached with profilepage e.g. events, notes, photos, videos, groups, answer, blog.

Brand Network Member: Users of Global Social Brands Networks Platform,when join or create specific brand network, they become member of thatparticular brand networks. Member has rights to use network page, view,publish and subscribe contents, services and applications of all orparticular members or experts or brand network's administrator,participate to particular groups, events, survey, poll, contestapplications, provide human services to other network members likeanswer, analysis, guidance and use services provided by brand owner likee-commerce, answer, support and other services. Members can communicateand invite their friends and friends' friends to join particular brandnetworks.

Friend: Social Brands Networks Platform Users can search, find, add,suggest, confirm and invite their friends to join Social Brands NetworksPlatform, related social brand networks and user's friends group.

Friends of Friends: Social Brands Networks Platform Users can view theprofile of friends' friends and invite them to join user's friendsgroups.

Brands Resource Book: Brands Resource Book is a content managementinterface where users of Social Brands Networks Platform can composestructured, free-form and application related contents via compose brandinterface, user can publish contents or publications to particular brandnetworks and all publications of user are shown in publish box of BrandsResource Book. User can receive all contents from all joined brandnetworks in brand Inbox interface based on users' inbox privacy settingsincluding receiving contents from selected brand networks or formselected publishers. User can take actions on contents including rank,comments and report abuse and participate.

Brand Compose: Member of any brand network including Social BrandsNetworks Platform's user or expert or brand owner can compose brandrelated contents including structures (tag specific contents includingreview, suggestion, answer, FAQ, experience, features, health), freeform and application specific contents like text, photo, video, music,blog, articles, animation, news, presentation, graphics, files and otherdigital resources and publish the contents as per privacy policies setby publisher i.e. user including publish publication to one or morenetworks or restricted to particular groups of members. User can alsodraft the publication and publish later.

Brand Publish Box: All published publications of all joined brandnetwork of publisher i.e. user is shown to brand publish box. User cansee publication related statistics including number. of readers orsubscribers, hits, visits, comments, actions and points earned.

Brand Inbox: All publications of all joined networks' all subscribedpublishers come in Inbox. Network member can read publications andrelated statistics including number of subscribers, hits, visits,comments and points and level of authors. Member can take actions oncontents like give comments and feedbacks, assign points and ranks,unsubscribed or block contents, mark as top or favorite publisher.

Brand Users Generated Contents and services: General Users of GlobalSocial Brands Networks Platform's can submit user's generated contentsincluding structured, free form and application specific contents in theform of text, audio, movie, animation, images, graphics, video, files,slide and other digital resources. Online general users can provideservices to other members of network like answer, support, guidance,suggestion, analysis, collaborative search and other human mediatedservices.

Brand Experts Generated Contents and services: Global Social BrandsNetworks Platform's registered domain specific expert provides valueadded services and contents to brand network's members or subscribersincluding expert contents, support, answer, analysis, promotion, sales,marketing, referrer and other expert services.

Brand owners' Administrators: is an administrator user or representativeappointed by of brand owners to manages the brand networks includingmembers, contents, publication, analysis, creating new administrators,attaching applications, offering services, filtering or censoringcontent publications and other all administrative and managementactivities.

Brand owners and admin Generated Contents and services: Brand ownerprovides all members or subscribers of brand network quality contentsincluding reliable contents like products and services details,catalogue, videos, photos, presentation, article, FAQ, white papers,demo, training, information, knowledge and valuable services tocustomers and prospective customers includes e-commerce, replay,support, answer, support.

Structured Tags: System or user or expert created Structured Tagsprovide readymade tags like review, features, price, quality,specification, suggestion, comments, guidance, health, warning, how,why, compare, alternative etc. to write or author tag specific contentsor relate content with particular tags.

Structured Content: Structured Content is divided into multiplepredefined forms like photos, videos, music slides, presentation, textresources and contents, file resources. Structured and organized contentis useful for viewing, searching, matching, comparing, storing,analyzing, filtering and sorting.

Free Form & Unstructured Content: Free Form content includes any typesof combination of resources in any form including text, photos, videos,music, files, links and blog or article in any style, language andformat.

Application related Content: Application related Contents are fullfeature applications for specific needs like blog, article, stories,slide show, presentation, podcasting, catalogue, demo and training.

Brand Network and Profile Page Applications: Application type includes(1) Content authoring and publishing, (2) applications for networkmembers to participate including poll, contest, survey, games,fill-form, u-to-u answer (3) service specific applications includinge-commerce, promotion, sales, marketing, gifts, news, support, inquiry,answer. Applications can be developed by controller or authorizeddevelopers or expert or general users and applications can be integratedwith profile page or brand network page.

Brand Network Experts: Brand Network Experts is a person or company ororganization or any other entity that qualifies as an expert for one orbrand network and provides value added contents and services to allmembers of one or more brand networks.

Brand Owner: Brand Owner is a person or company or organization or anylegal entity who owns the brand of particular products or services orweb site or any other things. Brand Owner's appointed representativeadministrators can manage the brand network. Brand owner can request thecontroller to acquire the readymade brand network for support,advertising, e-commerce, sales, marketing and promotion activities basedon mutual agreements and payment system including pay per member or payper action or pay per lead or pay per click or pay per impression. Brandowner can integrate brand specific network with their corporate site orportal.

Brand Public Network: All users of Global Social Brands NetworksPlatform can join or create public brand network. One unique brand hasonly one public network. Public brand network is always owned andmanaged by brand owner or controller or system. All members of publicbrand network can read contents, give comments and points, participateand use applications, publish and subscribed contents.

Brand Private Network: All users of Global Social Brands NetworksPlatform can join or create private brand network with the permissionand privacy policies of brand network owner or creator or administrator.Multiple users can create multiple private networks for a unique brandand invite friends and users to join or become member of network. Memberof network can subscribe and publish the contents, give comments andassign points.

Brand Trusted Network: Trusted Brand Network creator and all joinedmembers register via trusted official e-mail, mobile phone, paididentity and any other trusted identifications.

Brand User: Brand User is a user of particular brand and brand categoryrelated products and services e.g. Colgate brand toothpaste user whereColgate is a brand name and toothpaste is a brand category.

Brand Category: Brand Category is a taxonomy wise category andsub-category of brand network.

Brand User to Brand User: In Brand User to Brand User, Brand User canshare information and knowledge including contents with other same BrandUsers and provide supports, answers, suggestion, experience, guidance,alternatives, best line of products and services, training,presentation.

Brand User to Brand Owner: In Brand User to Brand Owner, Brand Userjoins the network of Brand Owner, participate the events, applicationand services of Brand Owner, contribute and share the knowledge,information and contents, purchase or shop products and services, givefeedbacks and suggestions, invite friends to join the network, read orsubscribe the publication of Brand Owner.

Brand Owner to Brand User: In Brand Owner to Brand User, Brand Ownercreates brand network, invites users of brands, publishes qualitycontents and news, analyzes members data related to poll, survey andcontest and provide applications and services for e-commerce, sales,marketing, advertising, brand building, promotion, supports, contentpublishing, communication and collaboration.

Brand Network Partners: Brand Network Partners including any individualor company or marketing agency or research agency or distributor orretail shop or mall or any other entity request the controller forpartnership regarding integrating brand networks with web sites,services, products and portals and owning brand networks for marketing,competitors research, promoting, sales, e-commerce and advertisingmultiple brands products and services based on predefined filteredcriteria including brand category, location, preferences, age group,gender and selected brand networks with mutual agreements and paymentsystem.

Brands Networks Generator Templates: User can use multiple user orexpert or system-generated, readymade brands-group lists-generatedtemplates to create or generate Brands Group Lists including shared,public and collaborative Brands Group Lists for easily joining multiplebrands networks as per user preferences, location, gender, career,status, education, interest, hobby, age, income range, life style,living standard, cast, work, on demand information and based on extendedprofiles.

Extended Profiles: Extended Profiles is domain and subject specificreadymade system or experts or users created profile templates or formor wizard for acquiring users domain or subject specific details toidentify the preferences, prospective customers for particular brandsand helps in presenting brand group list generated templates andgenerating or creating suggestive brands group lists.

Brand Social Graph: A brand social graph is global mapping of brandusers with brand owners.

Brands Database: Pre-created brand database includes all updated popularbrands name list and use for validating the user created brand networkname with brands name list database.

Friends List: User can manually create categories friends list andSystem automatically generates and updates brand, brand category andbrand networks' specific confirmed friends list.

Brands Group Lists: Global online brands social networks' user'sprofiles comprise domain and subject specific extended profile detailswhich are used for automatically or manually generating list of user'sprospective and suggestive portfolio of brands based on categoriessubject and domain specific selected brands templates. User can selectmultiple brands of products and services used by user and quicklyidentify and join or create related brand networks. System also appliesartificial intelligence for generating user specific suggestive brandlists.

My News: My news feature Global online brands social networks platformincluding all actions news and updates of user and all friends and alljoined brand networks like who join which brand network, who publishwhat, who install which application, what's new in products, services,events etc.

Cross Brand Networks Lists: Cross Brand Networks Lists is system anduser generated cross brand networks lists for related taxonomies andcategories e.g. toothpaste related competitors or alternative relatedbrands list.

Federated Brand Networks Lists: Federated Brand Networks Lists are brandlist of collaborative or federated partnership related to one or morebrands and brands networks. User and system can also generate pluralityof federated brand networks lists based on custom need, task, job,program, events, activities and workflow.

Multi Brand Customers Services Life Cycle (MCSLC): are multi brands andbrands networks related Collaborative and Federated Customers ServicesLife Cycle Platform of BSN which provides end to end supports servicesto customers or users or prospective customers for products and servicesthey used or want to buy & use or buy in near future. BSN platformsupports in each stage or step or phase of Customer Services Life Cycleprocess of one or more branded products or services including inRequirements Stage, Establish Requirements: Helping the customer tounderstand what a product or service does and how it can meet theirparticular need. Specifying: Determining the specific features or modelof the product or service that is appropriate for the particularcustomer. In Acquisition Stage, Sourcing: Making it easy for thecustomers to find a location to obtain the product or service. Ordering:The customer accepts the suppliers offer to sell the product or serviceand provides specifics regarding features and delivery. Paying: Pay For:The mechanism by which the customer pays for the product and the meansby which that payment is authorized. Obtaining: Taking ownership of theproduct or beginning to receive the particular service. Refers to themeans by which the product or service is distributed to the customer.Test & Accept: Demonstrating product or service meets the customer'srequirement. Information based products or services can often be testedprior to purchase. In Ownership Stage, Training: The process thatsupports resource utilization by making the customer capable of makinguse of the resource to its full extent. Maintaining: Helping thecustomer to analyze, diagnose, and repair problems with the product orservice. Assist in tracking usage (how the product is being used, amountremaining, problems in usage, recommendations for more effectiveuse).Upgrading to improved version. In Retirement Stage, Replace, Return& Dispose: Returning the product; reselling the product; recognizing theneed to buy a new one; disposing of the product; trading the product in;returning a rental product. Replacing a product that has been consumedor beyond repair. Accounting for: Helping the customer to understand howmuch they are spending (or saving) on the product, the use of theproduct, and or other resources used in conjunction with the product.Evaluating: The final “tally” by the customer for the life-cycleexperience. Were expectations met? Satisfied? Customers give feedbacksto brand owners and provide comments, ranks, reviews, suggestions,guidance, experience, tips & tricks, answer, support to other customersor users regarding products and services.

Universal Social Customers Relationship & Retention Management (SCRM):is social way of communication, collaboration, sharing between customersor prospective customers or past customers or users or members orsubscribers or client base or public & guest user of all brand networksof branded products and services including all competitors for brandedproducts and services in democratic or social way. Customer baseincludes all competitors' customers' base i.e. complete market of aparticular products and services line or category e.g. “Pizza market” or“Mobile Market”. Brand owner of particular products or services canreach whole market related prospective customers or customers. BSN is amulti model network environment which provides social customersrelationship management where multiple networks of branded products andservices of similar line or category or domain or subject exist anddiffers from conventional customer relationship management which coversonly customers of brand owner's brands and not all competitors' brandsor market or public base related prospective customer base. BSN providesholistic solution for identifying, attracting, differentiating, andretaining customers.

Briefly stated, the invention is directed to providing a system, method,and devices that enable general users to create or generate user'sbrands portfolio lists used or want to be used by users and creates orjoin related brand networks and invite friends to join brand networks,publish or subscribe to users or members or experts or brand ownerspublications, manage profile, brand networks, applications, contents andfriends, view statistics, updates and all news of network, participatein activities or events of brand networks, take actions on brandnetworks, contents and members or users of brand networks.

Further, the invention is directed to providing a system, method, anddevices that enable brand owners to create brand specific network,invite users of parent network i.e. Brands Social Networks (BSN) tobecome members of their brand networks, publish quality contentpublications for brand network, manage members, applications, users ormembers generated contents and services offered by brand owner to themembers of brand network or customers or prospective customer of brandsrelated products and/or services.

Further, the invention is directed to providing a system, method, anddevices that enable experts to provide value added services to brandnetwork members including answer, quality contents, supports and sales,marketing and promotion related services on behalf of brand owners orsponsors and to receive compensation for such actions.

Further, the invention is directed to providing a system, method, anddevices that enable partners to integrate BSN platform with partner'sweb sites or portals or services or products to provide additionalfeature to their users and share revenue with BSN System. Additionally,since multiple Brands Networks integration with a multiple websites canattract large audiences, subsequent viewing of Brand Networks andpublished publications can also generate revenue or any other form ofcompensation with click-through on related advertisements, affiliates,e-commerce, lead generation, and other business methods. This userbehavior can generate significant revenue or other compensation for thepartners; and even for a website owner. The Revenue Share System (RSS)determines and enables a partner to receive a share of the revenue orother compensation that their integrated brands networks generatethrough the use of the BSN System. In one embodiment, the RSS may beimplemented as a separate component, even on a distinct computingdevice; however, the RSS may also be implemented as a componentintegrated within the BSN, or within a same computing device.

In one embodiment, the RSS may determine compensation and revenue sharebased on click-through actions, a number of times a user's page isviewed, a mouse over by a viewer of the page over such as advertisementson the user's page, over portions of a defined content, or the like. Theinvention is not limited to these mechanisms for determiningcompensation and revenue share, however, and virtually any othermechanism may also be employed to provide revenue or other compensationto a expert user, and/or website owners, and to encourage the user tocontinue to provide content through use of the BSN.

Further, the invention is directed to providing a system, method, anddevices that enable advertisers to better target advertising includingcollaborative, competitive and social advertising.

In one embodiment, the BSN also provides a suite of online or smartonline or smart client or smart devices or visual or peer to peerenabled applications and default services like registration, searchengine, payment system and tools that enable several administrative andmanagement features as described below.

Successfully implementing brand network depends on Facilitation, Qualityof community manager/community management team, Exclusive product andservice offers for community members, Ability to search/recommenduser-generated content, Ability for community members to connect withlike-minded people, Ability for members to develop reputation within thecommunity, Ability for members to help others, Ability to dotransactions in community, e.g., buy products or support services,Ability to conduct time-limited activities, e.g., run brainstormingsessions, discuss hot topics, Community focused around a hottopic/issue, Attracting people to the community, Getting people to join,Getting people to engage, e.g., post, ask questions, Getting people tokeep coming back, functionality/technology features, skilled communitymanagers/facilitators.

BSN platform facilitates brand owners and administrators of brandnetworks in sales, e-commerce, support services, marketing and promotionactivities including Deliver buzz/publicity value, Drive referral,Target new/specific audience, Support ad campaign, Seed influencers,Leverage a sponsorship or new news, Create novelty, Build bettercustomer experience, Get noticed by bloggers/social media, Meet/godeeper with a tough-to-reach audience, Chase younger and more networkedaudience, Diffuse bad word of mouth, Improve credibility of message,Incubate a community of brand fans/ambassadors, Build brandlove/affinity, Build a worthy cause, Drive brand loyalty/lifetime valueof users, Accelerate sales, Launch a product/service, Buildawareness/exposure, Deliver web traffic, Deliver live traffic, Driveoverall marketing spend efficiency, Drive/upsell revenue, Launch in aspecific geography, Reduce customer acquisition costs, Save operationalcosts, Create a new distribution channel, Participate in adialogue/conversation, Target localization of international/nationaleffort, Improve customer support, Create an accountspecific/alliance-based program, Ego/want personal brand to be noticedand talked about, Act as a sounding board/stimulus for a lot of ideas,Follow a competitor/improve on a competitive effort, Identify superiorreal world insight, Work with a new agency/get new ideas, Test marketfor the rest of the company, Convert competitive users/ask forreappraisal, Solve a problem, Skirt/circumvent regulations. The purposeof online brands communities or networks is Insights/market research,Customer support, New product development, Idea generation, Producttesting, Customer/client loyalty, Market thought leadership/brandbuilding, Developer relations, Amplifying word of mouth, Employeecommunication, Public relations, General marketing, Reputationmanagement. Business objectives for brands communities or networks are:Reduce market research costs, Reduce customer acquisition costs, Reducecustomer support costs, Bring outside ideas into organization faster,Increase customer loyalty, Improve new product success ratios, Increaseproduct/brand awareness, Generate more word of mouth, Improve publicrelations effectiveness. Business measures to assess the effectivenessof the brands communities or networks are Increased sales attributableto the community, Improved Net Promoter score, Improved customersatisfaction scores, More referrals, Number of new leads, Number of newtrials, Number of new ideas from community, Number of new ideas fromcommunity adopted by organization, Decline in emails/calls intoservice/support, Improved brand perception scores, Greater awareness,Repeat sales. Web analytic measures to assess the effectiveness of thebrands communities or networks are Number of visitors, Number of repeatvisitors, Number of registered users, Number of “active” users, Howoften people post/comment, How often people visit, Number of RSS feeds,Number of people who subscribe via email, Increase in search engine rankfor your brand/company, Changes in traffic over time, e.g. doublingregistered users in a month, Page views, Time on site, Citations onother sites.

BSN platform facilitates customers to Enable voice-of-customer, Assesstrends and changes in customer needs, Gain customer insight on how toimprove and develop products and services, Humanize brand through directinteractions with customers, Empower customers to solve their own andeach other's problems, Identify and empower passionate customers asbrand advocates, Connect prospects to a supportive and engaged customercommunity, Align community to strategic business and marketing goals,Achieve adoption and participation by targeted audience, Facilitate anenvironment of open discussion to encourage the free flow ofinformation, Use community tools to obtain feedback and respond tocustomer advice, Define community ROI using management reportingmechanisms, Humanize brand through open, two-way dialogue with targetaudience, Obtain direct, immediate feedback on products and services,Provide a channel to deliver information and services to customers,partners and others, Enable target audience to interact, share bestpractices and create original content, Elevate brand by identifying andrewarding community participants who help to grow and nurture thecommunity, Extend product reach and open new market opportunities,Improve operational efficiency to maintain a competitive edge, Fosterinnovation through team collaboration, Formally capture industry-leadingexpertise, knowledge and intellectual property (IP).

The BSN System employs a variety of algorithms to maintain the integrityof the system. For example, one or more fraud algorithms are provided toensure that content generated by users is not fraudulently used togenerate revenue or other compensation by either the content's author orthird parties. There is also a mechanism for determining the value of apublication, and in turn the royalty payment to the user. This mechanismcombines, amongst other factors, the popularity of the content, itsquality, as well as the value its readers draw to an advertiser.Additional algorithms are in place to detect “junk” content. A userrating system can provide feedback on content and this rating can beemployed by itself or with other factors to determine the content'svalue to other users and quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings,like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the variousfigures unless otherwise specified.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will bemade to the following Detailed Description Of The Embodiments, which areto be read in association with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of one embodiment of an environment in whichthe invention may be practiced;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a client deviceuseable to interact within the environment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a networkdevice useable within the environment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an overview diagram of one embodiment of users BrandsSocial Networks Platform of the environment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of an overview of a process for theBrands Social Networks (BSN) Platform;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a detail overview of a process forthe Brands Social Networks (BSN) Platform;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a Friends and/or Members Managementof a process for the Brands Social Networks (BSN) Platform;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of a Brand Networks Management of aprocess for the Brands Social Networks (BSN) Platform;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of an Applications Management of aprocess for the Brands Social Networks (BSN) Platform;

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of a Brand Networks related ContentManagement of a process for the Brands Social Networks (BSN) Platform;

FIG. 11-29 show different screen shots of various embodiments of userinterfaces for employing the Brands Social Networks (BSN) System, inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 30 shows a visual indication of a BSN Brand Networks and FriendsGroup and related all actions and activities.

FIG. 31 shows a visual indication of a BSN Brand Owner's Brand Networksand Members and related all actions and activities.

FIG. 32 shows an visual indication of a BSN Multi Brand CustomersServices Life Cycle (MCSLC) Platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative Operating Environment

FIG. 1 shows components of one embodiment of an environment in which theinvention may be practiced. Not all the components may be required topractice the invention, and variations in the arrangement and type ofthe components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. As shown, system 100 of FIG. 1 includes local areanetworks (“LANs”)/wide area networks (“WANs”)-(network) 105, wirelessnetwork 110, mobile device (client device) 102, client device 104, thirdparty partner server 106, and Brands Social Networks (BSN) System 116.BSN Platform 116 further includes Revenue sharing System 108, DataManagement Server 113, Web Services and Communication Server 112, andWeb and Application Server 114.

One embodiment of a client device is described in more detail below inconjunction with FIG. 2. Generally, however, mobile device 102 is oneexample of a client device that is portable, and may include virtuallyany portable computing device capable of receiving and sending a messageover a network, such as network 105, wireless network 110, or the like.Such devices include portable devices such as, cellular telephones,smart phones, display pagers, radio frequency (RF) devices, infrared(IR) devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld computers,laptop computers, wearable computers, tablet computers, integrateddevices combining one or more of the preceding devices, or the like. Assuch, mobile device 102 typically ranges widely in terms of capabilitiesand features. For example, a cell phone may have a numeric keypad and afew lines of monochrome LCD display on which only text may be displayed.In another example, a web-enabled mobile device may have a touchsensitive screen, a stylus, and several lines of color LCD display inwhich both text and graphics may be displayed.

A web-enabled mobile device may include a browser application that isconfigured to receive and to send web pages, web-based messages, or thelike. The browser application may be configured to receive and displaygraphics, text, multimedia, or the like, employing virtually any webbased language, including a wireless application protocol messages(WAP), or the like. In one embodiment, the browser application isenabled to employ Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML), WirelessMarkup Language (WML), WMLScript, JavaScript, Standard GeneralizedMarkup Language (SMGL), HyperText Markup Language (HTML), eXtensibleMarkup Language (XML), or the like, to display and send a message.

Mobile device 102 also may include at least one other client applicationthat is configured to receive content from another computing device. Theclient application may include a capability to provide and receivetextual content, multimedia information, or the like. The clientapplication may further provide information that identifies itself,including a type, capability, name, or the like. In one embodiment,mobile device 102 may uniquely identify themselves through any of avariety of mechanisms, including a phone number, Mobile IdentificationNumber (MIN), an electronic serial number (ESN), network address (suchas an IP address, port number, and/or the like), or other deviceidentifier. The information may also indicate a content format that themobile device is enabled to employ. Such information may be provided ina message, or the like, sent to client device 104, BSN Platform 116, orother computing devices.

Mobile device 102 may also be configured to communicate a message, suchas through Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service(MMS), instant messaging (IM), internet relay chat (IRC), Mardam-Bey'sIRC (mIRC), Jabber, or the like, between another computing device.However, the present invention is not limited to these messageprotocols, and virtually any other message protocol may be employed.

Mobile device 102 may further be configured to include a clientapplication that enables the end-user to log into an end-user accountthat may be managed by another computing device, such as BSN Platform116. Such end-user account, for example, may be configured to enable theend-user to receive emails, send/receive IM messages, SMS messages, RSSfeeds, to access selected web pages, create and/or publish content,receive compensation, feedback, or the like.

Client device 104 may include virtually any computing device capable ofcommunicating over a network to send and receive information, includingemail messages, IM messages, SMS messages, RSS feeds, or the like.Furthermore, client device 104 may be configured to enable a user tomanage brands networks, members, friends, application and contentsincluding create and/or publish content, to receive comments or otherfeedback or actions associated with the content and/or to receivecompensation based in part on the content, advertisements associatedwith the content, or the like for expert users.

The set of such devices may include devices that typically connect usinga wired communications medium such as personal computers, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, or the like. Similarly, client device 104 may include oneor more applications as described above in conjunction with mobiledevice 102.

Wireless network 110 is configured to couple mobile device 102 and itscomponents with network 105. Wireless network 110 may include any of avariety of wireless sub-networks that may further overlay stand-alonead-hoc networks, or the like, to provide an infrastructure-orientedconnection for mobile device 102. Such sub-networks may include meshnetworks, Wireless LAN (WLAN) networks, cellular networks, or the like.

Wireless network 110 may further include an autonomous system ofterminals, gateways, routers, or the like connected by wireless radiolinks, or the like. These connectors may be configured to move freelyand randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily, such that the topologyof wireless network 110 may change rapidly.

Wireless network 110 may further employ a plurality of accesstechnologies including 2nd (2G), 3rd (3G) generation radio access forcellular systems, WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, or the like. Accesstechnologies such as 2G, 3G, and future access networks may enable widearea coverage for mobile devices, such as mobile device 102 with variousdegrees of mobility. For example, wireless network 110 may enable aradio connection through a radio network access such as Global Systemfor Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS),Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Wideband Code Division MultipleAccess (WCDMA), or the like. In essence, wireless network 110 mayinclude virtually any wireless communication mechanism by whichinformation may travel between mobile devices 102-104 and anothercomputing device, network, or the like.

Network 105 is configured to couple BSN Platform 116 and/or RSS 108 withother computing devices, including, client device 104, and throughwireless network 110 to mobile device 102. Network 105 is enabled toemploy any form of computer readable media for communicating informationfrom one electronic device to another. Also, network 105 can include theInternet in addition to local area networks (LANs), wide area networks(WANs), direct connections, such as through a universal serial bus (USB)port, other forms of computer-readable media, or any combinationthereof. On an interconnected set of LANs, including those based ondiffering architectures and protocols, a router acts as a link betweenLANs, enabling messages to be sent from one to another. Also,communication links within LANs typically include twisted wire pair orcoaxial cable, while communication links between networks may utilizeanalog telephone lines, full or fractional dedicated digital linesincluding T1, T2, T3, and T4, Integrated Services Digital Networks(ISDNs), Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs), wireless links includingsatellite links, or other communications links known to those skilled inthe art. Furthermore, remote computers and other related electronicdevices could be remotely connected to either LANs or WANs via a modemand temporary telephone link. In essence, network 105 includes anycommunication method by which information may travel between 106, clientdevice 104, and other computing devices.

Additionally, communication media typically embodies computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in amodulated data signal such as a carrier wave, data signal, or othertransport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Theterms “modulated data signal,” and “carrier-wave signal” include asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information, instructions, data, or the like,in the signal. By way of example, communication media includes wiredmedia such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, fiber optics, wave guides,and other wired media and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared,and other wireless media.

One embodiment of BSN Platform 116 is described in more detail below inconjunction with FIG. 4 and flowchart 5 and sitemap flowcharts 6 to 10.Briefly, however, BSN Platform 116 includes one or more network devicesconfigured to enable content publishing for users to share content overa network with others.

As shown in FIG. 1, BSN Platform 116 includes a Data Management Server113 which hosts multiple databases 121 including Brand List, BSN Usersand Brand Networks Profile, Members, synchronization, log, statistics,transactions and actions, Contents that is configured to provide datastorage and analytics for content, feedback to the content, reportingservices, and/or revenue analysis. Data Management Server 113 may alsoinclude data about the user and users' profiles, including, but notlimited to login, password, region information, preferences and brandnetworks contents, or the like.

Web Services 112 is configured to provide various web services to a userincluding various search tools, synchronization, communication,collaboration, user interfaces, accounting tools, registration services,security services, or the like, that enable a user or partners toaccess, edit, and/or otherwise publish, or maintain content useable fora BSN and integrate website or portal or products or services with BSNPlatform.

Web and Applications Server 114 is configured to enable display and/ormanagement of one of more brand networks online web sites or smartonline or smart client enabled applications. In one embodiment, Web andApplications Server 114 may provide access to BSN and partners websitesthat enable integration, publishing and retrieval of brand networks andcontent for display. In one embodiment, Web and Applications Server 114may include one or more websites controlled or otherwise managed forproviding professional content. Such content may be written in multiplelanguages and configured to be executed on a variety of differentcomputing platforms, and/or configurations. In one embodiment, automaticreformatting of the content may be performed to enable the content to beavailable through a variety of different communication mechanisms,including, but not limited to web pages, RSS feeds, emails, or like.

Thus, while Web and Applications Server 114 is illustrated as a singlecomputing device, the invention is not so limited. For example, Web andApplications Server 114 may represent a plurality of different computingdevices. Similarly, Web Services and Communication Server 112, and/orData Management Server 113 may also represent a plurality of computingdevices, rather than a single computing device. Therefore, devices thatmay operate as components of BSN Platform 116 include personal computersdesktop computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, network PCs, servers, networkappliances, or the like.

3rd Party Partner Server 106 represents virtually any computing deviceconfigured to provide a plurality of third party services, includingintegration of BSN Brands Networks with partners or brand ownerswebsite, content and services, advertisement content, or the like. Inone embodiment, RSS (Revenue Sharing System) 108 may be provided within3rd Party Partner Server 106, to provide revenue and/or othercompensation to the BSN Platform 116 based on different mechanisms,including pay per member, pay per action or lead or e-commercecommission or pay per clicks for advertisements, or the like. In oneembodiment, 3rd Party Partner Server 106 may provide the advertisementcontent, or the like, and then receive information from RSS 108indicating how much compensation to be provided, based on reportsprovided by RSS 108, or the like. Brand Owners integrate related brandnetworks with company web site or use online brand network on BSNplatform and share revenue or pay based on per member or per action orper lead or per e-commerce transaction and like. Partners integraterelated one or more brand networks with web site or portal or productsor services and share revenue with BSN based on different advertisingmodel and e-commerce or sales transactions. Devices that may operate ascomponents of 3rd Party Partner Server 106 include personal computersdesktop computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, network PCs, servers, networkappliances, or the like.

Illustrative Client Device

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of client device 200 that may be included ina system implementing the invention. Client device 200 may include manymore or less components than those shown in FIG. 2. However, thecomponents shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodimentfor practicing the present invention. Client device 200 may represent,for example, client devices 102 or 104 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, client device 200 includes a processing unit(CPU) 222 in communication with a mass memory 230 via a bus 224. Clientdevice 200 also includes a power supply 226, one or more networkinterfaces 250, an audio interface 252, video interface 259, a display254, a keypad 256, an illuminator 258, an input/output interface 260, anoptional haptic interface 262, and an optional global positioningsystems (GPS) receiver 264. Power supply 226 provides power to clientdevice 200. A rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery may be used toprovide power. The power may also be provided by an external powersource, such as an AC adapter or a powered docking cradle thatsupplements and/or recharges a battery.

Client device 200 may optionally communicate with a base station (notshown), or directly with another computing device. Network interface 250includes circuitry for coupling client device 200 to one or morenetworks, and is constructed for use with one or more communicationprotocols and technologies including, but not limited to, global systemfor mobile communication (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA),time division multiple access (TDMA), user datagram protocol (UDP),transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), SMS, generalpacket radio service (GPRS), WAP, ultra wide band (UWB), IEEE 802.16Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), SIP/RTP, or anyof a variety of other wireless communication protocols. Networkinterface 250 is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device,or network interface card (NIC).

Audio interface 252 is arranged to produce and receive audio signalssuch as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 252 maybe coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enabletelecommunication with others and/or generate an audio acknowledgementfor some action. Display 254 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gasplasma, light emitting diode (LED), or any other type of display usedwith a computing device. Display 254 may also include a touch sensitivescreen arranged to receive input from an object such as a stylus or adigit from a human hand.

Video interface 259 is arranged to capture video images, such as a stillphoto, a video segment, an infrared video, or the like. For example,video interface 259 may be coupled to a digital video camera, aweb-camera, or the like. Video interface 259 may comprise a lens, animage sensor, and other electronics. Image sensors may include acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit,charge-coupled device (CCD), or any other integrated circuit for sensinglight.

Keypad 256 may comprise any input device arranged to receive input froma user. For example, keypad 256 may include a push button numeric dial,or a keyboard. Keypad 256 may also include command buttons that areassociated with selecting and sending images. Illuminator 258 mayprovide a status indication and/or provide light. Illuminator 258 mayremain active for specific periods of time or in response to events. Forexample, when illuminator 258 is active, it may backlight the buttons onkeypad 256 and stay on while the client device is powered. Also,illuminator 258 may backlight these buttons in various patterns whenparticular actions are performed, such as dialing another client device.Illuminator 258 may also cause light sources positioned within atransparent or translucent case of the client device to illuminate inresponse to actions.

Client device 200 also comprises input/output interface 260 forcommunicating with external devices, such as a headset, or other inputor output devices not shown in FIG. 2. Input/output interface 260 canutilize one or more communication technologies, such as USB, infrared,Bluetooth™, or the like. Optional haptic interface 262 is arranged toprovide tactile feedback to a user of the client device. For example,the optional haptic interface may be employed to vibrate client device200 in a particular way when another user of a computing device iscalling.

Optional GPS transceiver 264 can determine the physical coordinates ofclient device 200 on the surface of the Earth, which typically outputs alocation as latitude and longitude values. GPS transceiver 264 can alsoemploy other geo-positioning mechanisms, including, but not limited to,triangulation, assisted GPS (AGPS), E-OTD, CI, SAI, ETA, BSS or thelike, to further determine the physical location of client device 200 onthe surface of the Earth. It is understood that under differentconditions, GPS transceiver 264 can determine a physical location withinmillimeters for client device 200; and in other cases, the determinedphysical location may be less precise, such as within a meter orsignificantly greater distances. In one embodiment, however, mobiledevice may, through other components, provide other information that maybe employed to determine a physical location of the device, includingfor example, a MAC address, IP address, or the like.

Mass memory 230 includes a RAM 232, a ROM 234, and other storage means.Mass memory 230 illustrates another example of computer storage mediafor storage of information such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Mass memory 230 stores abasic input/output system (“BIOS”) 240 for controlling low-leveloperation of client device 200. The mass memory also stores an operatingsystem 241 for controlling the operation of client device 200. It willbe appreciated that this component may include a general purposeoperating system such as a version of UNIX, or LINUX™, or a specializedclient communication operating system such as Windows Mobile™, or theSymbian® Operating system. The operating system may include, orinterface with a Java virtual machine module that enables control ofhardware components and/or operating system operations via Javaapplication programs.

Memory 230 further includes one or more data storage 244, which can beutilized by client device 200 to store, among other things, applications242 and/or other data. For example, data storage 244 may also beemployed to store information that describes various capabilities ofclient device 200. The information may then be provided to anotherdevice based on any of a variety of events, including being sent as partof a header during a communication, sent upon request, or the like.Moreover, data storage 244 may also be employed to store multimediainformation and/or content for later publication, editing, or the like,as well as other information including address lists, contact lists,personal preferences, or the like. At least a portion of the content mayalso be stored on a disk drive or other storage medium (not shown)within client device 200.

Applications 242 may include computer executable instructions which,when executed by client device 200, transmit, receive, and/or otherwiseprocess messages (e.g., SMS, MMS, IM, email, and/or other messages),content, and enable telecommunication with another user of anotherclient device. Other examples of application programs include calendars,editors, email clients, IM applications, SMS applications, VOIPapplications, contact managers, task managers, transcoders, databaseprograms, word processing programs, security applications, spreadsheetprograms, games, search programs, and so forth. Applications 242 mayfurther include browser 245. Browser 245 may include virtually any of avariety of client applications configured to receive and/or providecommunications of web pages, and other content over a network. Browser245 typically provides for a graphical display of various web pages,including user interfaces provided, in part, by another computing deviceover the network. Browser 245 may include a variety of securityfeatures, and/or other plug-in applications, modules, applets, scripts,or the like, to enable display of animation, videos, playing of audiofiles, or the like. Browser 245 and applications 242 are configured toenable a user to prepare content for publication to BSN Platform 116 ofFIG. 1. Moreover, through one or more of applications 242, the user mayreceive notification of and/or compensation for their contributedcontent.

Illustrative Server Environment

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a network device, according to oneembodiment of the invention. Network device 300 may include many morecomponents than those shown. The components shown, however, aresufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing theinvention. Network device 300 may represent, for example, an integratedBSN Platform and Frameworks includes Users Profiles, Friends, BrandNetworks, Applications and Contents Management System. Thus, in oneembodiment, network device 300 may represent an integrated device formanaging BSN Platform 116 and RSS 108 of FIG. 1. However, it should beclear from above, that such components also may be distributed across aplurality of different computing devices. Thus, FIG. 3 should not beconstrued as constraining or limiting the invention in any manner, butinstead is intended as merely one of a variety of possibleimplementations.

In any event, network device 300 includes processing unit 312, videodisplay adapter 314, and a mass memory, all in communication with eachother via bus 322. The mass memory generally includes RAM 316, ROM 332,and one or more permanent mass storage devices, such as hard disk drive328, tape drive, optical drive, and/or floppy disk drive. The massmemory stores operating system 320 for controlling the operation ofnetwork device 300. Any general-purpose operating system may beemployed. Basic input/output system (“BIOS”) 318 is also provided forcontrolling the low-level operation of network device 300. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, network device 300 also can communicate with theInternet, or some other communications network, via network interfaceunit 310, which is constructed for use with various communicationprotocols including the TCP/IP protocol. Network interface unit 310 issometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or networkinterface card (NIC).

The mass memory as described above illustrates another type ofcomputer-readable media, namely computer storage media. Computer storagemedia may include volatile, nonvolatile, removable, and non-removablemedia implemented in any method or technology for storage ofinformation, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data. Examples of computer storage mediainclude RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store thedesired information and which can be accessed by a computing device.

The mass memory also stores program code and data. One or moreapplications 350 are loaded into mass memory and run on operating system320. Examples of application programs may include transcoders,schedulers, calendars, database programs, word processing programs, HTTPprograms, customizable user interface programs, IPSec applications,encryption programs, security programs, VPN programs, SMS messageservers, IM message servers, email servers, account managers, and soforth.

Mass memory further includes web server 356, data stores 358, andapplications 350. Applications 350 are shown to include Brand Networks(BSN) Platform server 352 and Revenue Sharing System (RSS) server 354and online applications and services server 355. Web server 356 includesvirtually any application configured to delivers Web pages and othercontent to browsers and other client applications via at least the HTTPprotocol. However, web server 356 may also be configured to providescripts, user interfaces, accounting interfaces, editors, security, orthe like, to the client application. Moreover, web server 356 may employa variety of other communication protocols, beyond HTTP. For example,web server 356 may be configured to manage email communicationprotocols, SMS protocols, IM protocols, or the like. Moreover web server356 may employ a variety of scripts, applets, programs, or the like, toenable communications of content with a client application. In oneembodiment, web server 356 may represent, in part, web propertiesservices provided through Web Properties Server 114 of FIG. 1 anddescribed in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 4. In oneembodiment, web server 356 may also obtain the content and/or userinterfaces, applications, or the like, from data stores 358.

Data stores 358 may include any of a variety of storage mechanisms,configured to store, and otherwise managed content, applications,scripts, applets, or the like. As such, data stores 358 may be adatabase, a file structure, or the like. Data stores 358 may store thecontent into a category structure, such as folders, albums, graphs,trees, or the like, based on a user account, a web service, or the like.In one embodiment, data stores 358 may represent the Data Managementservices illustrated in FIG. 1, and described in more detail below inconjunction with FIG. 4.

BSN Platform 352 is described in more detail below in conjunction withFIG. 4. Briefly, however, BSN Platform 352 includes a variety ofcomponents to provide web services to a user, including search tools,user interfaces, plug-and-play modules, or the like. Various embodimentsof example user interface screens are described in more detail below.

RSS 354 is described in more detail below. Briefly, however, RSS 354includes applications, and/or data configured to determine RevenueSharing for partners including Brand Owners, Developers and Partnerslike 3^(rd) party web sites, portals, research agency, based on avariety of mechanisms, including but not limited to pay per member, payper action or lead or sales transaction, impressions of the content byothers, click-through activities of a viewer of the content, mouse oversby a viewer on a webpage including the content, or the like. Embodimentsof various user interface screens are described in more detail below.

Illustrative Overview BSN Platform Architecture

FIG. 4 shows an overview diagram of one embodiment of a BSN platform forthe environment of FIG. 1. As such, FIG. 4 provides an expandedillustration of BSN Platform 116 and third party Partner servers 106 ofFIG. 1. BSN Platform Architecture 400 may include many more componentsthan those shown. The components shown, however, are sufficient todisclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the invention.

As shown, BSN Platform Architecture 400 includes web properties 441,which represents one embodiment of an expansion of Web Properties Server114's architecture. BSN Platform Architecture 400 also includes webservices 442, which represents one embodiment of an expansion of WebServices Server 112's architecture. BSN Platform Architecture 400further includes Data Management 443, which represents one embodiment ofan expansion of Data Management Server 113 of FIG. 1 and UsersManagement 444 which represents one embodiment of an expansion of clientdevice 104 and 102 of FIG. 1. Moreover, as shown, BSN PlatformArchitecture 400 also includes Partners 445, which represents oneembodiment of an expansion of 3rd Party Partner Server 106 of FIG. 1. Inone embodiment, Web Properties 441, Web Services 442, and DataManagement 443 represent BSN Platform 116 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated, Partners 445 may include Revenue Sharing Systems (RSS)436, Brand Owners 417, Brand Network Partners (3rd party web sites,portals, products and services) 411, content partners 401, Advertisepartners 402 and Developers Partners 403. However, Partners 445 is notconstrained to include only these types of partner servers/services, andothers may be included, without departing from the scope of theinvention. Revenue Sharing Systems (RSS) 436, for example, may representvirtually any computing system configured to include third partyadvertisements, advertisement revenues, or other services that mayprovide and/or other compensation to BSN Platform 116 based on differentmechanisms, including, but not limited to a number of advertisementsdisplayed, pay per click (PPC), cost per thousand (CPM), cost per lead(CPL), cost per action for an advertisement (CPA), mouse over costs,impression fees and revenue sharing for integration of one or morebrands networks with brand owners or partners website or portalincluding pay per join member, pay per sales or ecommerce transaction,pay per visit or action, or the like. BSN Platform 116, and itsillustrated components in FIG. 4, may communicate with Revenue SharingSystems (RSS) 401 using a variety of different protocols, including, butnot limited to FTP, HTTP, SOAP, or the like. In one embodiment,information provided by Revenue Sharing Systems (RSS) 401 may beobtained, and/or provided to BSN 116 through Brand Networks UseStatistics, Revenue share Accounting, Metering, Analytics and Reportingand Revenue Share data store 405.

Contents partner 401 represents commerce partners that are incommunication with the web services application 433 via one or moreprotocols, including, but not limited to, 3rd party APIs, FTP, HTTP,SOAP, or the like. Through contents partner 401, the web serviceapplication 433 may expose a plurality of e-commerce functions that canbe used across multiple websites. It should be noted, that the inventionis not limited to contents partners, and other content partners may alsobe included, such as audio partners, graphical partners, advertising ore-commerce or marketing partners or the like.

As shown, Data Management 443 includes Brands Networks' Use Statisticsand Revenue Sharing related Accounting, Metering, Analytics, Reportingdata store 405, Users & Networks Profile and Contents Database store408, and Brand Database store 412.

Revenue Sharing related data 405 represents any storage mechanism thatenables storage reporting, and related analytics. In one embodiment,Revenue Sharing related data 405 may include a database, a spreadsheet,program and data, or the like. In one embodiment, Revenue Sharingrelated data 405 is part of the data management layer of the BSNPlatform 116 and can be arranged to run OLAP, or the like, and toprovide reporting services. Revenue Sharing related data 405 may also bearranged to store detailed logs from defined partner's and brand ownerswebsites and overlay the logs with revenue data and/or othercompensation data that is retrieved from 3rd party advertisement revenuesystems. The Revenue Sharing related data 405 can be used for reporting,accounting, and revenue share and/or other compensation sharing ofbrands networks, partner's websites, and/or other 3rd party websites.Thus, in one embodiment, at least a portion of Revenue Sharing relateddata 405 may be employed to provide at least some data or other supportto RSS 108 of FIG. 1.

Users & Networks Profiles and Contents Database store 408 includes alocal database, spreadsheet, file, program, or the like. Contentretrieved, for example, by internet search 432 may be stored in contentdata store 408. The content can be exposed via an internal webapplication, script, applet, API, or the like, which can be used by asearch mechanism to index or otherwise access the stored content.

Users & Networks Profiles and Contents Database store 408 includes adatabase, file, spreadsheet, program, or the like, for storinginformation, such as professional content (for some properties),individual and collaborative content, as well as user tips and comments,or the like. In at least one embodiment, the content can be stored inXML. However, the invention is not so constrained, and the content mayalso be stored in any of a variety of formats. User & content store 408can also store user account information, transactions, actions, usersecurity information, user profile data, or the like, and provide forretrieval of revenue and/or other compensation specific information fromthe Revenue Sharing related database 405.

Brands List database store 412 includes a database, file, spreadsheet,program, or the like, for storing information, such as Brands Name Listfor validating the user created Brand Network legal name. In at leastone embodiment, the content can be stored in XML. However, the inventionis not so constrained, and the content may also be stored in any of avariety of formats.

Applications, API and Web services 442 include BSN PlatformPlug-and-play and integration API, Search Engine, Default and DevelopersOnline, smart online and smart client applications and services 432,media web services 433, and Experts Compensation System (ECS) 434,Advertising System 435, Revenue Sharing System (RSS) 436.

Internet Search Engine 432 includes an internal search appliance,crawler application, and/or spider application, or the like, that crawlsand indexes one or more network sites to find different types ofcontent, e.g., “how to” content, or the like, on websites that may becontrolled by the BSN Platform 116. The content may be stored locally ina database and made available via the Media web services 433. Internetsearch engine 432 may further allow users to search through the contentgenerated by and residing in BSN Platform 116.

Media web services 433 is arranged to include content retrieval,tip/comment retrieval and submission, user registration and login,publication creation, publication edits and wiki functions, e-commerceproducts, internal searches, content searches across the web, or thelike. Thus, in one embodiment media web services 433 is configured toprovide user interface screens to enable a user to register for and usethe invention to create and publish content. In one embodiment, mediaweb services 433 provides the user interfaces such as those described inmore detail below. Moreover, in one embodiment, media web services 433can enable caching of content and other information for fast retrievalby a user, administrator, or the like.

Wiki platform 432 includes a wiki type platform to enable collaborativedevelopment of web content. In one embodiment, wiki platform 432 mayoperate substantially similar to the wiki media open source platform forcreating brand specific collaborative content creation or editing,submission or publishing and filtering. In one embodiment, wiki platform432 may provide editing, and/or formatting tools, version control tools,or the like, as well as rules, procedures, policies, security, or thelike, for its use. In one embodiment, wiki platform 432 may be includedwithin BSN plug-and-play 413. In one embodiment, a user may access wikiplatform 432 though media web services 433.

BSN Platform plug-and-play integration API 413 provides a series offorms, scripts, code, applets, or the like. In one embodiment, the formscan be embedded in a client application, interface, or the like, such asthrough javascript, iFRAME, or as a hosted ASP application. BSN Platformplug-and-play 413 can communicate with the media web services 433 usingSOAP, or virtually any other protocol, to enable its functions,including user registration and login, or content creation andsubmission. This layer of the system can maintain forms used to submitdifferent content formats. It can also act as a central managementserver to manage logins across different websites.

Web properties 441 include websites 416, RSS 436, and Plug & Play API413. RSS 436 includes virtually any mechanism configured to enable awebsite to log viewing traffic and/or clicks, mouse-overs, feedback, orthe like. The RSS may, in one embodiment, be continuously written tocache and/or periodically written as XML, or the like, to disk. In oneembodiment, a separate service may access the logs from disk and writethem to a logging database, such as Revenue sharing related data store405, or the like.

Websites 411 represents websites that employs BSN Platform 116 to enableretrieval of content and to perform related BSN Platform functions viacommunication with the media web services 433. In one embodiment, plugand play code may be employed by websites 411 and 417 to manage userlogins, and/or related account services. Websites 411 and 417 can alsobe used for creating new brands networks, registration of new membersand generating new content and enabling users to edit existing contentcollaboratively using various tools and user interfaces provided by webservices 431.

One embodiment of code 413 includes client side javascript codeconfigured to enable “injection” of forms, or the like, into a client'swebsite i.e. brand owner or partners web site or portal or products orservices. In one embodiment, code 413 may perform such injections usingone or more mechanisms, including, for example, iFRAME. Code 413 may befurther configured to enable management of user logins, sessions, and/orcontent creation. Once code 413 is injected or otherwise provided to thewebsite, the user can customize parameters associated with its use. Useof code 413 may then provide the user with access to user interfacescreens, such as those described below, for use in managing brandsnetworks and content publications through the BSN, and/or managingRevenue sharing through the RSS. In one embodiment, the BSN Platform maybe configured using an Application Service Provider (ASP), or the like,where the brands networks and related publishing of various contents,applications and services may then be hosted on, for example, a 3rdlevel domain name and/or configured to hosts a user Interface of theclient's website. In one embodiment, a user session may be maintainedbetween the client website and the BSN Platform though use of cookies.However, the invention is not so constrained, and other mechanisms mayalso be employed. Moreover, in one embodiment, the communication betweenthe user and the BSN Platform and/or BSN Platform interfaces may be overa secure network connection, using for example, SS/TLS, or other securetunneling protocols.

Websites 416 include those websites that may be managed or otherwisecontrolled by the operators, administrators, or the like, for the BSNPlatform. In one embodiment, website 416 may include a local data store417. Local data store 417 may be employed, for example, to store and/ormanage professional content that may be written in multiple languagesfor use in running on a plurality of different platforms. In oneembodiment, websites 416 may be able to access media web services 433 toretrieve individual and collaborative content. Websites 416 may alsoaccess for use other components within online, smart client, API and webservices 442, including for example, the BSN plug-and-play 413 to manageuser logins, profiles, and/or to create new brands networks andpublications or other content, and/or to comment on existing content.

Generalized Operation

The operation of certain aspects of the invention will now be describedwith respect to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of an overviewof process 500 for the Brand Social Networks (BSN) Platform. Process 500may be implemented within a single computing device, such as describedabove in conjunction with FIG. 3. Process 500 may also be distributedacross a plurality of computing devices, such as described inconjunction with FIG. 1, above.

In any event, process 500 of FIG. 5, may begin, after a start block,where users manually or automatically create their Portfolio of BrandsGroups Lists via Brands Groups Lists Generator and join or createrelated and selected brands networks 502.Further, BSN users can manageand invite friends and members of brands networks to grow the networks503. Users or Members of brands networks can Publish and use other usersPublications 504. In one embodiment, the user may initially interactwith various user interfaces to the BSN Platform to access applications,services, API, scripts, tools, applets, or the like, for use in creatingand managing Brands Networks, managing contents for publication 505 andregistered user can take actions on brands networks and related contentsincluding comments, rank, flag, review, and like 506. In one embodiment,the user may initially perform a registration as described inconjunction with the user interface screens below.

The user may then provide content to the BSN Platform using suchadditional screen interfaces, applications, or the like, provided by BSNPlatform. In one embodiment, the user may provide the content using avariety of different formats, using a variety of different computinglanguages, or the like.

Processing then moves to block 504, where content may then be publishedonto and/or through the variety of Brands Networks, and/or othercommunication mediums, as described above. In one embodiment, the userproviding the content may indicate where the content is to be published.In another embodiment, a website, or communication medium provider, orthe like, might determine which content is to be published, where,and/or when. In still another embodiment, an advertisement provider, orother third party content providers, may also influence where, when,and/or how the user's content might be published.

Moving to block 507, Revenue Sharing tools are employed to monitormetrics useable in determining if and/or when to provide compensation toan expert content provider and revenue share to website owner includingbrand owners and partners websites or portals or products or services.Such determination, as noted above, may be based on a variety ofmetrics, including, but not limited to pay per actions or transactionsor visits or leads, clicks, mouse overs, and feedback regarding thecontent, website, or the like.

Process 500 then flows to block 507, where compensation may be providedto the content provider of block 504. As noted above, the compensationmay be provided based on exceeding a threshold value, exceeding a timeperiod, or any of a variety of other defined criteria. While the abovediscussions may indicate that compensation may be provided in terms of afinancial compensation, the invention is not so limited. For example,compensation may also be provided as discounts in other products and/orservices. Moreover, in one embodiment, where an expert content providerhas obtained a reputation for quality contributions of content, theexpert content provider may also receive compensation in terms of beingable to influence which advertisements might be associated with theirpublished content, where the content is published, or the like. Thus,compensation may be reflected to the content provider in a plurality ofdifferent ways, without departing from the scope of the invention. Inany event, process 500 then may return to perform other actions. Forexample, in one embodiment, process 500 may be repeated each time a usercreates or generates Brands Group Lists, Creates or joins selectedpreferred brands networks, searches & invites friends and grows thebrands networks, publishes brand network specific publications and usesother members publications, manages profiles and attaches-detachesapplication and services, takes actions on brand networks, members andpublications like ranks, comments, blocks and removes. BSN sharesrevenue with partners web sites, Application provider Developers,Content providers, Experts and Brand owners, or the like. Moreover,process 500 may be performed per user, or collectively for a pluralityfor users.

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implementedby computer program instructions. These program instructions may beprovided to a processor to produce a machine, such that theinstructions, which executed on the processor, create means forimplementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. Thecomputer program instructions may be executed by a processor to cause aseries of operational steps to be performed by the processor to producea computer implemented process such that the instructions, whichexecuted on the processor to provide steps for implementing the actionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer programinstructions may also cause at least some of the operational steps shownin the blocks of the flowchart to be performed in parallel. Moreover,some of the steps may also be performed across more than one processor,such as might arise in a multi-processor computer system. In addition,one or more blocks or combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustration may also be performed concurrently with other blocks orcombinations of blocks, or even in a different sequence than illustratedwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustration support combinationsof means for performing the specified actions, combinations of steps forperforming the specified actions and program instruction means forperforming the specified actions. It will also be understood that eachblock of the flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems which perform the specified actions or steps, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Illustrative User Interfaces and Site Mapping

The operation of certain aspects of the invention will now be describedwith respect to various embodiments of user interfaces to the BSNPlatform. FIGS. 6 to 10 shows a detail overview diagram of oneembodiment of a process site map for the BSN platform. It should benoted that the BSN Platform may be employed by different brands, tradenames, users, or the like. Thus, a plurality of different users maysimultaneously and distinctly employ the BSN Platform in a variety ofways. In another embodiment, different websites and/or othercommunication mediums may be used. In one embodiment, arrangements ofwebsites, or other communication mediums may be based on a third party'slinking agreement, or the like, including agreements based on logodisplays, link references, or the like. In several embodiments, a usermay be provided a website based on tab interfaces, page templates, orthe like.

In any event, FIG. 6 provides an overview of various interfaces, andprocess actions that a user may employ while creating and managing BrandNetworks and/or Publishing Content. Site map 600 of FIG. 6 shows anexample of websites 601 useable for accessing, creating, and/orotherwise managing Brand Networks and content for publication. As noted,more or less websites, as well as a variety of other communicationmediums may also be employed.

As shown, site map 600 identifies a holistic view of variety of possibleactions of Brands Social Networks (BSN), including performing browsingand searching of Users Profiles, Brands Networks and related Contents byregistered users as well as Non-Members 611 and obtaining searchresults, performing registration and performing logins 612, after loginsystem displays User's Home Page 621 including management and all typesof User Statistics, Friends and Members or subscribers management 632,Users Brand Networks management 633, Applications management 634,Publications contents management 635, Brand Group Lists management 636including create Brands Group List manually 646 and Brands Group Listsgenerates via templates 647 and all Brands Group Lists of user'sincludes public 651, private 652, Shared 653 and public 654, messagingmanagement 637 and User's Profile Page management including Profile'sPublic View 641, Edit Profiles 642, Account Settings 643, All PrivacySettings 644, All Statistics and News 645.

As shown, site map 700 identifies a variety of possible actions forFriends and Members Management, including search and invite friends ormembers to join the BSN or BSN Brands Networks or participate for anyother activities or actions 711 including search user's friends ormembers from friend lists 721, various invitation logic or method orsystem to invite friends via e-mail or search or contact list and like722, Find friends 723, Invite friends' friends or members from otherbrands networks 724, Other features 712 including all friends updatednews 731, Add member as friend and request to accept as friend. Ifrequest accepted friend automatically add to users friends list 732,Suggest or introduce a particular friend to other friends of user 733,accept request from other users or members and confirmed them as friends734, Mutual friends 735 and User created Friend Lists 736.

As shown, site map 800 identifies a variety of possible actions forBrand Networks Management, including Search User's all created or joinedpublic or private Brand Networks 811, Create New Public 821 or Private822 or Trusted 823 or Collaborative or Federated 824 Brands Networks,Anybody can create Public brand network and is unique network forparticular brand, but brand network is owned by BSN administrator orbrand owner. User can create (N) numbers of private brand network andinvite friends or members to join a network. To access or create trustednetwork user has to provide official E-mail ID or any trustedidentification information. Collaborative or federated brands networksare created by multiple brand owners via mutual collaboration agreementsand user can also create federated brands group list. Before creating aparticular Brand Network, BSN validate brand network name with Brandname database and via other logic or algorithm or method or system e.g.with popular search engine, human agents or collaborative usersfiltering or user flag or comment or complaint and confirm availabilityof Brand network 831. User can Join already existing public or privateBrand Networks via Search and browse options and All types of News,invitation from users, members, experts, friends and brand owner'sadministrators 813, Leave Brand Network 814, Browse and search allpublic Brand Networks of BSN and read, review, rank, comment on contentsfor registered users of BSN and Non-Members or Public Guest User 815,Remove or hide or un-publish Brand network by creator of brand networksor BSN Administrators based on abuse report or Brand ownersadministrators 816.After creating Brand network successfully BrandNetworks administrator can view administer profile 861, Publish orun-publish brand network 862, view brand network page including allbrand related details, attached applications, list of members andpublications 863, edit brand network page to create administrators,attach applications and services, publication and contents 864, BrandNetwork specific Publications Management, Analysis, User Action likecomments, Ranks and Review 865, Invite members to join brand networksand related management 866, Set privacy settings regarding eligibilityof membership of brand network like age restriction, particular locationonly and other preferences 866, View Brand Network's statisticsincluding Brand Network Page Hits, Unique visitors for particular periodand from particular location, application users, publication readers orsubscribers 867 and promote Brand Network via BSN advertising systems.Brand Networks joined members 842 can compose structured, free form andapplication specific content publications 851 and participate or takeactions including comments, ranks contents, communicate with members852, view or access brand network and use related applications andservices 853.

As shown, site map 900 identifies a variety of possible actions forApplications Management, including application development anddeployment management 911 includes BSN default application and servicesfor Users and Brand Networks Profile Page 921, BSN Developers 922, Usercreated applications integration 923, Browse or search applications byUser or Brand Network Profile Page (category and location wise) 912,attach or detach applications 913 with particular user's 924 or brandnetwork's profile page 925, set privacy regarding application includingControl what information is available to applications, share profileinformation, Block applications and ignore application invitations 914,Invite application users by application developers to all or relatedusers via promotion 915, View applications related statistics includingnumber of installation, hits, visits 916.

As shown, site map 1000 identifies a variety of possible actions forUsers or Experts or Brand owner administrators or editors or partnersGenerated Content Publications Management including composing contentpublications 1011 including structures, free form and applicationspecific composition systems 1021, publisher or user or author or writeror editor or administrator or expert can publish or draft 1031 orpublish publication with or without collaboration settings 1041 ordiscard publication 1033 or hide published publication 1042, allincoming contents from all subscribed or joined brand networks come toInbox 1012 and user can read, use and take actions on published contentslike rank or comment or flag 1013 and 1015, user can search allpublished or Inbox publication contents 1016 and take actions oranalysis of all incoming contents from all joined brand network sources1022, content publication publisher can administer 1014 the allpublications including attach application with publication 1023, setprivacy for subscriptions 1024, Administrator can do Content Managementfunction like user's comments and review analysis, user generatedcontent filtering, censorship and block user 1025, invite members orreaders or subscribers and promote the publication via BSN advertisingsystems 1026 and view or analyze statistics 1027.

Many of these actions are described below in conjunction with FIGS.11-32.

FIG. 11-31 show different screen shots style drawings of variousembodiments of user interfaces for employing the Brands Social Networks(BSN) Platform, in accordance with the invention. It should be notedthat the following illustrations are not intended to limit theinvention. Instead, they are intended to merely provide an overviewnon-exhaustive understanding of how the invention may be employed.

In one embodiment, a user may interact with the BSN Platform usingvirtually any browser application or smart client or smart onlineapplications, including, but not limited to Internet Explorer (IE),Firefox, Opera, Safari, or the like. Moreover, as described above inconjunction with FIGS. 1-2, the user may use any of a variety of clientdevices.

As mentioned in conjunction with site map 600 of FIG. 6, a user mayinitially register for use of the BSN Platform. In one embodiment, oneusername/password can be provided to a user to allow access to allwebsite properties of the BSN Platform including BSN international orBSN Country or region specific or BSN Local or Brand Owners or Partners'website or portal or products or services. In one embodiment, usernameand email addresses can be used as unique identifiers including trustedidentifications like official e-mail id or mobile phone number or anyother trusted id system for each registration. Moreover, a user mayperform multiple concurrent logins to the BSN System.

As websites are acquired, the usernames/passwords of theircustomers/users can be imported into the BSN registration database assoon as it's appropriate to do so. In one embodiment, a customermessaging may take place before doing this. In one embodiment,self-registration in a defined website can be defined for “General User”or “Expert User” or “Brand Owner Admin” or “Network Member”. In anotherembodiment, administrators could continue to be registered via anAdministrator Tool. In one embodiment, however, to join or create brandnetworks, use user profile and contribute publications contents of anykind (article, tip or comment), a user may first self-register.

One embodiment of a screen shot of a login window 1100 is illustrated inFIG. 11. In one embodiment, a root level webpage for websites 601-1101can have a prominent button or link called “Log in or Register.” Thislink can be pervasive through all screens on the websites. Clicking onthis button can generate the login screen, which can have a link orbutton to “Create a New Account”. Clicking on this button, in oneembodiment, produces the Registration Page. In one embodiment, if a userhas not logged in and they attempt to contribute content (for example,by clicking on “My Brands Resource Book” or “Comment on Publication” orthe like.) the Login Page can appear. Logout links may take place of“Login” links after the user has successfully logged in. After clickingon logout, the user may be taken to the one of the website's Home Page.In one embodiment, the user's browser can prompt the user whether itwants to remember the username/password for the next visit.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a screen shot of a registrationinterface 1102. If a required field is left empty in the quickregistration interface, or if the password fields do not match, thefields that are to be fixed may be indicated in some manner, e.g., redtext, entry area highlighted, or the like. Users may choose to view theTerms of Use and Privacy Policy before proceeding, in one embodiment. Ifthe user clicks on either of these links, a new daughter window canappear with a “Close” button at the bottom of the text. Moreover, userscan be told that their registration request failed if the birth datethat they enter makes them less than some defined age, after they clickon “Continue.”

FIG. 1102 illustrates one embodiment of an interface useable formanaging user registration. Thus, in one embodiment, after clicking on“Continue” on a previous page, an email is sent to the user's registeredemail account. Screen may then be displayed in the browser. All fieldsshown in screen may be optional. Clicking “Save” at bottom of a formgenerates an alert message interposed on the “Home Screen” for the site,telling the user to check their email for the confirmation message sothey can log in.

If the user is not logged in after launching the confirmation page, thentheir first login can take place on their first attempt to create brandsgroup lists, join Brands Networks or Publish and Subscribe Publications,whether it is a create new brand network or new publication or an updateto their profile. Moreover, the BSN System provides for situations,where the user may have forgotten their password. Thus, a “ForgotPassword?” link can appear next to the password entry field for login.Clicking on this link can produce a field requesting username OR emailaddress they registered with and a submit button. Providing registeredemail address and clicking on “Submit” can cause the user's password tobe sent to their registered email account.

Typically, collection of statistics begins for the registered userimmediately upon completion of registration. All ratings, comments,publications submissions, or the like, may be traceable/displayable backto the user, as well as all revenue-generating activity related to theexpert user (pageviews, click-throughs, or the like). In one embodiment,a mechanism for bulk importing a set of user registrations from anacquired company or brand owners or partners may be provided. Theprocess can flag duplicate usernames and can allow for the acquired userto change their username to something unique to preserve their accounthistory. Moreover, in one embodiment, logging subsystems of the BSNsystem may track abandoned registrations. User can also browse andsearch categories brands networks and related contents and people oruser or member or friends profiles from home page 1103, 1104 and 1105.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 1200 configured as apossible home screen of BSN registered User managed by the BSN Platform.Screen 1200 enables users to obtain an at-a-glance view into the partsof their presence on the site; and obtain a convenient means of managingProfile, Privacy and Account Settings, Brands Networks, Friends,Applications and Publications 1209 and All Statistics including User'sLevels, Points and Ranks 1205, Number of Friends and joined Members1203, Public and/or Private Brand Networks 1202, Publication Viewers orreaders hits or visits 1206, Invitation accepted and requested 1204,publications in Inbox, publications published, Applications attachedwith profile, News, subscriptions, notification and messages andassociate lists and invoking links 1201.

FIG. 13 illustrates embodiments of screens 1300 useable to public toview the user's profile page displaying profile picture and all Friendsand Brands Group Lists link 1301 and list and profiles links of allfriends 1302, Created and joined all public and private Brands Networkslist 1303, Friends in other networks list and profiles links 1304,user's details, user's 1305 and all friends status 1306, updatedstatistics 1307, My News 1308, all types of publications 1309 and allattached applications and services 1310 including Photos, Top Brands,Groups, Answer, E-commerce, Survey, Contest, Poll, Events, Blogs andVideos and like with User's Profile Page. User can set privacy settingto control who can see profile page.

FIG. 14 illustrates embodiments of screens 1400 useable to manage theuser's 1401 and expert's profile 1405 and extended profiles 1403including work profile 1402 and Education Profile 1406. Prior topublication, a process can be applied to the Location and Descriptionfields to scan for HTML and/or offensive content. If the profileincludes HTML, or offensive language/content, an alerts message canappear to the user after they click on “Save My Profile” telling them tocheck for at least one of these two conditions and resubmit afterediting. Note that all uploaded images can be reviewed via a PictureQueue. Uploaded images can be published to the public site immediatelywith the finished profile, but if an image fails review, a genericplaceholder image can be substituted on this page and the user's publicprofile page. The user can subsequently upload another image that meetsthe BSN System standards (published in a FAQ). An email can also be sentinforming the user that this action took place against their submittedimage 1407.User can also specify and updates relationships information1404.

FIG. 15 illustrates embodiments of screens 1500 useable to manage theuser's Account settings including change password 1501, reset password1502, BSN mobile website activation settings 1503, change email contactaddress 1504, preferred site and language settings and time zone 1505,notifications related settings including sent notifications when addusers as friend, when user confirm friendship request, suggest friendsand like 1506 and all attached applications specific settings 1507. Afacility may be provided to a user to remove their profile from thesystem 1508. When the user selects this option from their Profile Page,the following actions can take place: they are shown a confirmationalert that they click-through; if they click no, they are returned tothe Profile Account Settings page; if they click yes, their profile istaken down off the public site, all publications and comments attributedto them can also subsequently revert to “site Friend;” accountinformation, Brand Networks membership information andpublication/comment attribution can still be stored in the database, butmay only be displayable on the user's Control Panel; User can stilllogin using their credentials and make their profile and attributions“public” again at any time. In one embodiment, expert user earnings fromtheir services and publications can continue uninterrupted regardless ofwhether their profile is public or not.

FIG. 16 illustrates embodiments of screens 1600 useable to manage theuser's Privacy settings including control who can see user's profile andrelated information. Users can customize privacy settings from thePrivacy page from which user have total control over who can view all ofcontents. At most, only user's friends, their friends and the people ormembers on user's networks can see user's profile 1601. Users can adjustwho can find user in searches and what they can see or do with userssearch result via settings for Search Privacy 1602. User can adjustSearch privacy options by clicking on “Edit Settings” in the “Search”section of the Privacy page. From this page, user can restrict who canfind user in many different ways. The default option is for everyone onBSN to be able to find user in searches. User's Profile privacy settingdetermines who can actually view user's full profile. BSN also offersmore restrictive search privacy options, the only people who can find insearches are all the people in brands networks and all friends, some ofthe people in brands networks and all friends, or just user's friends.If user select “Some of my networks and all my friends” user will get toselect which networks can find user in search and which cannot. From theSearch privacy page, user can also establish what people can see aboutuser. User can also restrict profile picture to appear in searchresults. User can also prevent the people who find user in searches frommessaging user, adding user as a friend or viewing user's friends list.These settings only apply to people who are not permitted to see user'sprofile (i.e. people who are not friends or on any of brands networks).User can also set privacy settings for Publication i.e. who see or usewhich publications and subscription 1607. User can also control incomingpublications i.e. who sent what publications to me 1606. User controlbrands networks membership i.e. who is eligible to join user's brandnetworks 1609. User set privacy setting for attached applications andgenerated data and actions 1603 and Block applications and ignoresapplications related invitations 1610. User can use the Block feature toend all interactions with a user on BSN by entering their name in the“Block Users” box 1608. Once user finds them in the search, click the“Block User” link to the right of their name. They will no longer beable to find user using BSN. By default, only users or members withinuser's brands networks and confirmed friends can view user's profile. Onthe most private setting, “Only Friends,” only users who are confirmedfriends will be able to view profile. User can restrict all news andactions related content 1605 and who contact user via see user'spicture, send message, add user as friend and view friend list 1604.Usercan create private or personal brands groups lists or share selectedBrands group lists or make them public for collaborative editing andupdating and set privacy settings to control who see or update selectedor particular brands group lists 1611.

FIG. 17 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 1700 configured as apossible home screen of BSN registered Brand Owner's Administratormanaged by the BSN Platform. Screen 1700 enables Administrator Users toobtain an at-a-glance view into the parts of their presence on the site;and obtain a convenient means of managing All created brands networksincluding publish publications, attach and detach applications andservices, censor and filter user or member created contents, analysis,Members or customers relationship management, customers services lifecycle management, network invitation and promotion management and like1702, All publications and incoming brand network specific contents frommembers, News, Notifications and Actions 1701 and managingAdministrator's Profile, One or more Brand owner's Brand Networks,Privacy and Account Settings, Statistics, Levels or Points or Ranks,Brand Networks Members, Applications and Contents related Composition,Publications 1703.

FIG. 18 illustrates embodiments of screens 1800 useable to public toview the Brand Network Page displaying product or service picture orimage 1800, all Brand Network's Members list and profiles links 1802,All Public Brand Networks Group List of authorized Brand Owner 1803,Federated and Collaborative Brand Networks Group List 1804, Brand Ownerand Brand's details 1805, Brand Network's Statistics 1806, News 1807 andall types of publications from all administrators 1809 and contentauthors, experts and members 1808 and all attached applications andservices with Brand Network's Page 1810. Administrator can set privacysetting to control who can see what part of Brand Network Page.

FIG. 19 illustrates embodiments of screens 1900 useable to manage theuser's portfolio of brands related brand networks and statistics, newlyincoming publications and published publications and invited friends ormember status. Interface facilitates user to browse all brand network ofuser and manage latest actions, publications, join members, request,massages, updates, notifications and news 1902.

FIG. 20 illustrates embodiments of screens 2000 useable to create newbrand network. System provides form 2002 including Brand Name, BrandCategory and Sub Category, Brand Type, Brand Location, Brand Details,Brand related keywords, Tags, Taxonomies, Ontology and Metadata. Generalusers can create N numbers of Private Brand Network for a single brandbut only one Public Brand Network for a particular Brand. User or BrandOwner's Administrators set privacy settings, attaches applications andservices offered for a Brand Network. Before creating Brand Network forparticular Brand, BSN system verifies the Brand Name with pre createdBrand Name Database or human-mediated including experts or general usersof BSN. If public network of brand already exists then user prompts that“already exist. Want to join this network?” Public Brand Network can beowned only by BSN or related Brand Owner.

FIG. 21 illustrates embodiments of screens 2100 useable to manage theuser's friends or Network members including search and match preferencebased members and add to friend 2106, find friends already registered onBSN, invite friends or friends' friends 2108 to join BSN or BrandNetworks. User can invite one or more friends via email to join the BSN,when they join, automatically added to user's friends list 2102. Usercan also invite all friends from all contact address list of all emailaccounts 3103.User can also find already registered friends 2104 andsend them link 2105.Further user can browse BSN 2107 and check contactbook or invitation box or extended network to invite public members2109.

FIG. 22 illustrates embodiments of screens 2200 useable to manage,generate, create, search, share and edit the User's Portfolio of BrandsLists. User can create Brands Group Lists or generate Brands Group Listsvia “Brands Group Lists Generator and Templates” or use readymademultiple shared brand networks Group Lists generated collaboratively byusers or experts or Brands Social Networks (BSN) for easily joiningmultiple brands' networks as per user's preferences and location,gender, career, status, education, interest, hobby, age, income range,life style, living standard, cast, work, on demand information, extendedprofiles and a like. User can edit extended profile which are useful forbetter understanding user and suggest user brands lists 2201, User canselect extended profile and templates 2202 to facilitate user to createnew Brands Group List. User can also select Brand Category 2203 andselect preferred or used brands from suggested list generated by systembased on users profile and selected extended profile 2204 and add tobrand group list for creating or joining multiple brands networks. Usercan manually create Brands Templates and Brands Group List 2205 andsearch already existing brands Group List for editing or updating orusing lists 2206.

FIG. 23 illustrates embodiments of screens 2300 useable to create orgenerate Brands Group List based on selected extended profile and BrandsGroup List Template to create or join multiple Brands Networks. BrandsGroup List Template includes Brand category and sub category, suggestedBrands Name based on user's profile, extended profile, preferences andother details, recorded actions and information. If user's brand name isnot matched with suggested brands list then user can manually enterbrand for a given category and use. User can also select brand name frombrands detail list based on user's location, gender, age and otherpreferences. After finalizing selection of all Brands Name of selectedtemplates and related categories, user can select Brands Names to createor join public or private brand networks or save full or partial listfor later creation or use. System generates final Brands Group List andone click creates multiple public or private brand networks or joinsusers to already existing multiple public or private brand networks2302. User can later any time update or modify or change Brands GroupLists. User can also add suggested category, sub-category and relatedall brands to Brand Group List Template 2301. User can create orgenerate N number of Brand Group List and edit, modify, set privacysettings including make list public or private or share lists with otherfriends or users of Brand Networks or BSN.

FIG. 24 illustrates embodiments of screens 2400 useable to manage User'sBrands Group Lists based Brands Networks including those which user canread, view, and use all publications from all sources including User'sown, Brand Owner's administrators or editors, experts, brand network'smembers, friends, friends' friends, Public content, BSN and 3^(rd) partycontent providers, messaging, news and updates of all brands networksrelated to particular Brand Group List and take actions or participatewith brand networks. User can search products or services, compare themand buy or subscribe them 2401.Brands Groups Lists including privatelists 2402, system generated lists 2403, Public editable lists 2405 andshared lists 2404.

FIG. 25 illustrates embodiments of screens 2500 useable to compose brandnetwork specific publication contents including Publication title,select brand network to publish publication, select composition typeincluding structure and pre-created structure specific tags, free formand application specific including Blog, Article, Wiki, News, Slideshow, Resource type including text, video, audio, photo or image andlike. User can set privacy and control where to publish and who areeligible for subscriptions. User can preview publication and publish itor save publication as draft for later publication or discard composedpublication. Published Publications reflect to Users “Publish-Box” andall subscribers “Inbox”. Clicking on “Preview” opens the publication inPreview mode. Clicking on “Edit” opens the article in the Publicationcomposition Form with various composition tools and applications.Clicking on “Delete” can prompt the user whether they are sure they wantto delete a publication. In one embodiment, “Draft” status indicates apre-publication version of the publication saved by user. In oneembodiment, the user may also be provided with a screen that includescomments, updates, ranks, flag that other users have made against thisparticular user's publications. Clicking on username link takes the userto user's Profile page. Clicking on the publication title link takesuser to published content page. Clicking on “View” takes user to fulltext of a comment on the published content page. Publications Submissionmay be performed using several interfaces described next 2501.

As shown in FIG. 25, buttons available at the bottom of Compose BrandSubmission Form 2501 include: “Save and Preview,” “Save as Draft”,“Discard and “Publish.” Clicking on “Save and Preview” for an articlecan save it to a draft to “Draft Box” and open the publications in aseparate Preview window. Clicking on “Save as Draft” can save a draft to“Draft Box” and take the user to “Draft Box”. “Publish” can be dimmeduntil the required fields are filled out. “Save and Preview” buttonsinterspersed at roughly “fold” intervals can have substantially the samefunction as described above. Clicking on “Save and Preview” anywhere onthe form can toggle the user to Preview mode. Navigating away from theform without saving it by clicking on another tab can generate an alertswindow that all data may be lost, sure you want to continue? If theanswer is yes, they can be returned to User's Home Page. In oneembodiment, a popup Javascript confirmation box is provided thatincludes an “OK” button to discard changes, and a “Cancel” button tostay on form. FIG. 25 provides one embodiment of screen 2501 for use inpreviewing a page. Prior to publication, a process can be applied tofull publication text to scan for HTML and offensive content. If theprofile contains HTML, or offensive language/content, an alerts messagecan appear to the user after they click on “Publish” telling them tocheck for these two conditions and resubmit after editing. Uploadedimages can be reviewed via the Picture Queue. Uploaded images can bepublished to the public site immediately with the finished article, butif images fail review, a generic placeholder image can be substituted onthe published publication page. The user can subsequently upload animage that meets BSN System standards (published in a FAQ). An email canalso be sent informing the user that this action took place againsttheir submitted image. FIGS. 13 and 18 provide one embodiment of screen1309 and 1809 illustrating how a publication might appear whenpublished.

FIG. 26 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 2600 for managing allnewly incoming or subscribed publications, application specificcontents, alerts and actions, contents, resources, and messages viaInbox from all joined or subscribed brands networks specificpublications from all members or experts or brand owner's administratorsor editors or 3^(rd) party content providers or from Brands SocialNetworks (BSN). User can give comments and rank or points, flagpublications, remove publications and block publications sources 2604.User can browse list and view or read multiple publications and takeactions on one or more selected publications. List includes Brandnetwork name and category, type of brand network, resource publicationdate, publication author, resource type, including resources category,links and details including brand network number of hits or visits,members, subscribers, authors rank and level and publication pointsassigned by reader or viewer or subscriber of publication 2601. Inboxtree style explore contains one or more system or user created foldersto categorize incoming publication contents. User can do various actionsor activities on one or more publications like open, print, forward,filter, categories, search, mark as junk or spam, delete and movepublications 2603.

FIG. 27 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 2700 for managing allpublished publications of user via “PublishBox” including statistics ofsubscribed readers, readers or subscribers or brand networks members orparticipants' hits, actions and pointes assigned by them. As noted,above, The BSN System can initially be used to compose, edit, andpublish content across all Brands Networks. The BSN System can support arelatively infinite number of content publications submission formsacross a wide variety of website properties including BSN or BSN countryspecific or BSN local or Brand owners or partners' websites or portalsor products or services. User can browse publications list includingname and category of brand network, type of brand network, publicationdate, resource type, resource list and links and details like totalnumber of readers, publication hits or visits, participations, actionsand points assigned by readers 2701. “Publish-box” tree style explorerfacilitates organization of categories of multiple publications formultiple brand networks 2702. User can block member or subscriber,report abuse for comments given by particular member or reader, setprivacy for publications, sort and analyze publications 2703.Users can,with To-Do, open, print, forward, categorize, search, find and move oneor more publications 2704.

In addition, a variety of interface tools may be provided by the BSNSystem for site management. Thus, Published publications can have abutton prominently displayed for flagging the publication asobjectionable or miscategorized and report abuse, assign vote or rank orpoints, give comments and e-mail publication. If a given publicationaccrues some defined number of clicks (such as 2-3) from different IPsin the user community, it stays live on the site but is placed into thePublication Queue for review. Publication status on user's Control Panelmay still indicate “Published” and they may not receive emailnotification of the flag. Users have to be registered or logged in toflag a publication as objectionable, or to rate a publication or commenton publication.

Comments submitted to a publication may have post-processing applied tothe text to scan for HTML and offensive content. If the comment containsHTML, or offensive language/content, an alerts message may appear to theuser after they click on “Publish” telling them to check for these twoconditions and resubmit after editing. Comments can have a buttonprominently displayed for flagging the comment as objectionable. If agiven Comment accrues another defined number of clicks (such as one)from the user community, it remains on the site but is placed into theComments Queue for processing.

Publications and comments may be rateable from the Publications page. Inone embodiment, one rating per content publication per IP address couldbe allowed (user can rate both publication and comments). The Userrating could be based on the average of the ratings other users haveplaced on that user's publications. Ratings on comments to author'spublications may not be factored in. Ratings interface may be as thewireframes shown above. However, other numbers of ratings may also beallowed, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment, website pages may be organized based on category,subcategory, and even sub-subcategory pages including metadata,taxonomy, ontology and semantic syntax. In one embodiment, a new pagemay be developed to free up subcategory pages of, for example, longlists of Brand Networks and Publications. By employing categories andthe like, a new opportunity may arise for additional ad units and highlytargeted Search Engine Optimizations.

BSN Registered Users or Viewers (Non-Members), Brand Networks Members,Brand Network's Administrators, authors, editors, and other uses mayemploy a search or browse interface; one embodiment of screen 2800 &2900 is illustrated in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 as an example. All types ofUsers are able to search for People or Users, Brand Networks andPublication Contents by Brand Network Name or Brand Category or BrandLocation, Search users by age range, genders and other criteria, searchcontents by Resource Type, Resource Form and Sort results by Recentlyupdated, Category wise, time & date wise, location wise and popularitywise including hits, visits, ranks. Searches can also allow wildcards.User can click-through entry on search results list, publication canthen appear under “Content” tab, Users can appear under “People” tab,Brand Network List appear under “Brand Networks” tab and Application canappear under “Applications” tab. Moreover, administrators, or the like,are able to search for users by username, or by email address (either ofthese can allow wildcard searches), or by some combination of Type(user, member, expert or admin) and Source, as defined by drop downs, orthe like.

BSN Search allows searching for anything on the site, including peopleon other networks, provided they haven't restricted their privacysettings. They can also specify which network wants to search. Select“Other Network,” then begin typing the name of the network, and BSNsearch engine give possible matches. BSN Search allows searching foranything on the site. This includes names, brands networks,publications, applications, services, groups, events, interests, gender,relationship status, etc. Just type in the names and words want tosearch—either alone or in combination. User can also filter or furtherlimit what is displayed. Just use the filters available on the rightside of the page to target results. Using the filters will limit resultsto friends and people on brands networks. User can also use ProfileSearch to search specific profile fields for users that exist in alljoined network. User can sort out “Names,” “Groups,” “Events,” or“Profiles.”

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a means of visually displaying the interconnections between thenodes and provides interactive model of Brands Networks and/or user'sfriend community. It facilitates mapping and measuring brands networks,friends, communication, information flow, and knowledge sharing/re-use.

Preferably, a user's Brands Networks and as, an unique, private personal(Friends), may be visually represented on an electronic display in oneor more of the following forms, including: graphical, alphanumericand/or animated symbols representing nodes joined by lines, or some formof visual link representing the connections between the nodes; a solidline indicating entities who have joined or have consented to join theuser's Brands Networks and unique, private personal (Friends) Networks;dotted lines indicating entities who have been invited but they have notjoined the user's unique, private personal (Friends) and BrandsNetworks; different symbols to differentiate between nodes representingdifferent types of entities; different symbols to depict nodesrepresenting entities who are individuals and those representing BrandOwners including company, retailers, organizations, manufacturer, mall,distributer, e-commerce web site or portal, dealers, sellers; symbols atleast partially resembling people to depict nodes representing actualindividuals; different symbols, colours, animations and/or sounds for anode to indicate the existence of defined information of interestincluding a particular predetermined activity, identifyingcharacteristic, entity attribute, or other data recorded in a nodes datarecord; different colours/symbols for different roles in a specificapplication; displaying further defined information of interest orpermitted actions when positioning a cursor or visual indicator over anode depending, and varying the information displayed depending on theuser's degree of separation from the node; nodes representing a personor an organized network also showing a numerical indication of thenumber of direct contacts associated with the node; a indicative ratherthan literal indication of the number of links to a node if numberexceeds a defined value, with a numerical value showing the actualnumber of connections; user customizable representations for nodes,including images, photographs and figures; different visual appearanceof a node symbol to indicate the status of an activity. Any entitywithin a BSN Visual interface can link to content—text, video, audio,multimedia, documents, links or Web pages—that provides more detailabout the entity. In other words, a BSN Visual interface can be designedto display micro and macro views of a data set, side-by-side. BSNvisualizations with structured data make the information more intuitive,accessible, manageable and meaningful and can make relationships in thedata more apparent than can traditional line or column displays and canimprove understanding and discovery. Multiple BSN visual interface canrun simultaneously and together to depict different aspects ofunderlying data and provides real-time views of data, and real-timeinteraction and helping end-users to find information.

The said system provides a platform for developers to provide the nodeswith applications and communication services. The system may also beprovided to the user with an initial suite of specific applications andcommunication services.

According to an alternative aspect, the present invention furtherprovides a tool to map relationship networks. Entities, including theuser may be considered as “nodes” in a network.

The invention provides a unique, private personal network with aplurality of number of users or entities represented as nodes, each nodebeing at the origin of an individual unique, private personal (Friends)and Brands Networks consisting of the user and a variable number ofadditional nodes.

As an individual interacts with a diverse range of people, they aremotivated to reveal different aspects of their identity, therebycreating a multi-faceted social identity, whereby different people knowdifferent things about the individual. This faceting of one's identityallows them to interact in a socially appropriate way in a wide varietyof potential environments. In engaging in this behavior, individualsstart to segment their brands social networks into a variety ofdifferent clusters, or types of people. Often, these people are onlyaware of a fraction of the individual's entire social network, thosewith similar identity information.”

Visual BSN is an interactive visualization tool for online Brands SocialNetworks, allowing exploration of the community structure of BrandsSocial networking services. Such services provide means by which userscan publicly articulate their mutual “friendship” in the form offriendship links, forming an undirected graph in which users are thenodes and friendship links are the edges. These services also allowusers to describe themselves in a profile, including attributes such asage, marital status, sexual orientation, and various interests.

Visual BSN provides a visualization of such services, providing aninteractive sociogram for exploring the links between network members.In addition to visualizing “friendship” linkages, Visual BSN supports arange of exploratory search features, providing visualization of therich profile data characteristic of these services, features whichtraditional sociograms are not designed to communicate.

FIG. 30 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 3000 for Graphical orVisual interface of BSN registered User for managing user's friends andbrands networks including registered BSN User (1) 3001 connected withall joined or created public or private brands networks 3017 and relatedall BSN entities nodes including multiple Brands Networks relatedMembers node 3008 to share, communicate and collaborate with othernetwork members, Experts 3009 node providing contents and other ondemand support like answers etc., Administrators or Editors 3010 nodeproviding quality content, sales, marketing, e-commerce and promotionservices to users, Partners 3011 node providing value-added services andcontent to brand network user, Advertisers 3012 node providingpreference based advertising to user, all BSN brand networks 3013 nodefacilitating user to search brand networks and join them and all publicusers of BSN 3014 node providing user (1) to invite users to join brandnetwork or add them as friend and all Personal Profile related actionand activities nodes 3005 including Friends Group Lists, Brands & BrandNetworks Group Lists, My news, attached Applications & Services, MyPublications, Status and Updates, Actions or To-do and user's allstatistics including levels, rank, no. of publications, brand networksand friends and Brand Network related action and activities nodes 3003including participating Applications and subscribed Services relatedactivities, Inbox for alerting new publications for related brandnetworks, Published Publications and related hit statistics, NewMessages and updated News from all friends and brand networks, Actionsand To-do and statistics and connected all friends 3002 including user'sfriends, friends' friends and N-Depth of friends' friends 3007 relatedoperations or action or activities. User can use sensitive andcontextual menu on nodes e.g. Brand Network “ABC Mobile” 3004 includeson demand menu when click on node which provides brand network relatedtasks or actions like joining or creating brand network or invitingusers to join brand network. Friend node 3002 provides friendsmanagement functionality where node explodes to multiple groups offriends and related all activities, actions, To-do and communication andcollaboration. Visual BSN provides visual search 3015 facilities whereuser can search brand networks, publications, friends or BSN publicusers or members of brand network or experts and like. Search highlightsand pinpoints the resulting nodes. Visual BSN provides control for whatis displayed in the graph or not by using a wide range of well-organizedfilters 3016 and settings including view all or specific selected brandsnetworks, all or selected group of online friends, Only updates and newitems or contents, activities or actions related with some or all brandnetworks.

FIG. 31 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 3100 for Graphical orVisual interface of BSN registered Brand Owner's Administrator formanaging brand owner's all brands networks including registered BSNBrand owner's super administrator User (1) 3101 connected with allpublic brands networks 3114 and related all BSN entities nodes includingmultiple Brands Networks related Members node 3105 to facilitatesupports, providing contents, sales, marketing, e-commerce, promotion,communication and collaboration services to brand network members,appointed Experts 3106 node providing contents and other on demandsupport like answers etc., Administrators or Editors 3107 node managingbrand network and providing quality contents, sales, marketing,e-commerce and promotion services to users, Partners 3108 node providingvalue-added services and content to brand networks, Advertisers 3109node providing preference based advertising to brand network members,all BSN brand networks 3110 node facilitating administrators to searchcompetitors brand networks or prospective partners for collaborativework and providing analysis services and all public users of BSN 3111node providing administrators to invite users to join brand network andall Federated and collaborative brand network partners nodes 3102 andBrand Network related action and activities nodes 3104 includingattached Applications and Services related activities or actions orparticipating members or users generated contents, Inbox for filteringor censoring all user generated new content publications for relatedbrand networks, Published Publications and related hit statistics , Newsand all sent Messages and updated News from all members and brandnetworks, Actions, To-do, statistics and connected all friends 3115including member's friends, member's friends' friends and N-Depth ofmember's friends' friends to invite them to join and promote brandnetwork. Admin can use sensitive and contextual menu on nodes e.g. BrandNetwork “ABC Mobile” 3103 includes on demand menu when click on nodewhich provides brand network's members related tasks or actions likecommunicate, give answer or support and e-commerce with particularmembers. Visual BSN provides visual search 3112 facilities whereadministrators can search brand networks, publications, members' friendsor BSN public users or members of brand network or expert and like.Search highlights and pinpoints the resulting nodes. Visual BSN providescontrol for what is displayed in the graph or not by using a wide rangeof well-organized filters 3113 and settings including view all orspecific selected brands networks, all or selected group of members,Only updates and new items or contents, activities or actions relatedwith some or all brand networks and like.

FIG. 32 illustrates one embodiment of a screen 3200 for managingCategorized Brands Group Lists including user's currently used or needto use or future use of multiple branded products and services andrelated Customers Services Life cycle. Registered user 3201 can begeneral, premium and expert user includes one or more individual,customer or prospective customer, team or association or group,collaboration of one or more pre-identified individuals and one or moreentities including but not limited to company, associations,organization, professional bodies, social bodies, shops, mall, dealers,distributors, retailers, suppliers, web site, portal, governmentalbodies and enterprises or an entity that exists as a particular anddiscrete unit. User can create or generate Categorized Brands Group Listand assign related metadata, taxonomy and ontology and disclose Brandscurrently used by users 3202 and specify requirements or needs ordisclose want to use or buy or purchase or subscribe 3202 brandedproducts and services lists via search, research by user, suggested byuser's friends and public members, experts and brand owners for futureuse 3203. All categorized brands lists 3205 of user including brandedproducts 3206 and services 3207 indicating brands portfolio of userdisclose branded products and services currently used, want to use orbuy or subscribe and future needs. Corresponding to each brand list orgroup of brands or each Brand of each list, an alternative or suggestedor similar categorized branded products and services list 3209, Userssearched brands list 3210 and System generated suggested brands lists3211 and new Brands Lists as per user preferences 3212 are constantlyupdated from multiple sources including competitor brands' owners oradministrators, friends, brands networks members, BSN system and experts3208. After search, research, enquiry from personal sources (friends),commercial sources (Brand owner's staff), public sources (networkmembers) and personal experience (user) 3214, next step is comparing andnegotiating with suppliers, and finalizing selection of needed productsand services and specifying or configuring products and services 3213.Customer then selects the reliable, competitive sources of products andservices for purchase and pays for purchases 3215. After purchase,customer uses and evaluates the products and services and makes commentsor gives suggestions or feedbacks. Customer can also take training foruse of products and services, upgrading and maintaining products andservices and managing i.e. monitoring and accounting their uses 3215.

From the angle of Brand Owner's sales and marketing department,Customer-service Life-cycle's various Stages include Requirements Stage:In this stage customer establishes a need for the product. Activities inthis stage may include educating customers about the purpose of theproduct or service or helping them see how your offering differs fromthat of your competitors and provide availability of their products. Inthis stage customer gets the answer of what is it? Do I need one? InSpecification stage, customers specify the characteristics of thatproduct or service to know which particular one to acquire and determineproducts and services attributes. In this stage customer get the answerof which one? How many? In the specification stage, customers select theproduct features that best suit their needs. Next Source is Selectionstage: customers select or determine source of products and services.After selecting a source for their product or service, in Ordering Stagecustomers actually place an order. Once the product or service has beenordered it must be paid for. That payment may also need to be authorizedthrough the customer's approval process. Convenience in payment isessential, but so too is security. In the acquisition stage, thecustomer takes possession of the product or begins to use the service.Testing and Acceptance Stage: After customers have acquired their newproduct or service they may test it out to verify that it works asexpected. When an innovative product or service is introduced, customersmay need to be educated about its features and how to maximize thebenefits of its use. This is particularly important for products andservices that require the customer to undergo a certain degree ofprocess change in using the product or service. Allowing the customer toevaluate and accept the product or service, sometimes even prior topurchase, is an effective way to resolve the education and adoptionproblems that can stifle an innovation's market penetration. Althoughthe evaluate-and-accept process historically has taken place afterpurchase, firms in service and information based industries letcustomers try out products prior to purchase-in particular with virtualtours, sample consulting reports, or demo software. Integration stage:Once the product or service is acquired and accepted for use, thecustomer must add it to an existing inventory of resources. Oftencustomers must also adjust their internal business processes to takefull advantage of the new product or service. In Usage Monitoring Stage,customers must ensure that resources remain acceptable while they are inuse or during the time customers receive service. Using the internet,suppliers can provide customers with the facilities to simplify thismonitoring stage. Upgrading Stage: Upgrades can also be offered toimprove the users' overall experience. Being able to upgrade service inresponse to important events, such as the customer's reaching certainmilestones or having a dissatisfying experience may be a source ofincreased loyalty and customer retention. Transfer or Disposal Stage:Customers will eventually transfer, resell, return, or dispose ofresources. Auditing and Accounting Stage: The final stage of the lifecycle focuses on evaluation of and accounting for the experience. Thisstage is particularly important for large corporations that areconstantly attempting to measure, manage, and control their spendingbudgets. Historical data collected can be used to support futuredecisions, forecasting, and auditing. Moreover, because the data areavailable on the internet, they are available in real time and cantherefore be used to support decisions immediately.

BSN Platforms facilitate users in each steps or stages or phases ofCustomers Services Life Cycle, (1) Establish Requirements: Assisting acustomer with what product he or she requires, (2) Specify: Helping thecustomer determine a product's attributes, (3) Source: Where customerswill buy a product, (4) Order: Services to help the customer communicatewhat and how much of a product is desired from the supplier, (5) Pay:Services to transfer funds or extend credit, (6) Obtain: Assisting thecustomer to take possession of a product, (7) Test & Accept: Services toensure that a product meets established specifications, (8) Train:Helping the customer to make use of the product to its full extent, (9)Monitor: Helping the customer monitor use and behavior of a product,(10) Maintenance: Repairing a product and keeping it in proper workingorder, (11) Upgrade: Services that alert the customer to newly availableattributes, new products, or automatic upgrades to a product, (12)Replace: Features that assist in providing another product for one thathas been consumed or is beyond repair, (13) Resell or Return: Helpingthe customer move, return, or dispose of a product, (14) Account:Helping the customer track where and how much money has been spent withthe company, (15) Evaluate: The final tally by the customer of theexperience that the customer has had with the company (e.g., feedback)

Thus, BSN Platform facilitates all users in B2C Customer Service LifeCycle (CSLC) phases; In Requirements phase Search functions,personalized product recommendation, saving a list of products forfuture purchase, Comparing products. In Acquisition phase Helpingcustomers understand buying process, Order online but pick them up atphysical location or via home delivery, One-click mechanisms, Shipmenttracking. In Ownership phase return and exchange, Customers writereviews, send emails for product changes or upgrades. In Retirementphase Information on disposal options, Calculate total cost of ownershipof product.

According to an alternative aspect, the present invention furtherprovides supports and services to customers or users for all phases ofCustomers services Life Cycle (CSLC) including, Phase 1: Requirements(1) Requirements Stage: Establish (or recognize) a need for the productor service, (2) Specification Stage: Determine the product or serviceattributes; Phase 2: Acquisition (3) Source-selection Stage: Determinewhere to obtain the product or service, (4) Ordering Stage: Order theproduct of service from a supplier, (5) Authorization and Payment Stage:Transfer funds or arrange credit, (6) Acquisition Stage: Take possessionof the product or receive service, (7) Testing and Acceptance Stage:Ensure that the product or service meets specifications; Phase 3:Ownership (8) Integration Stage: Add to an existing inventory orintegrate with existing internal business processes, (9)Usage-monitoring Stage: Control access and use of the product orservice, (10) Upgrading Stage: Upgrade the product or service ifconditions change; Phase 4: Retirement (11) Transfer or Disposal Stage:Move, returns, or disposes of product or service; cease to need theservice, (12) Auditing and Accounting Stage: Monitor expenses related tothe product or service

According to an alternative aspect, the present invention furtherfacilitates Brands Owners to provide supports and services to customersor prospective customers in all phase of Customers Services Life Cycle(CSLC) including Awareness Phase: At this stage of the Customer BuyingCycle the customer identifies a company's value proposition that maymatch his needs. He develops an awareness that an organization existsand that it might be able to fulfil his requests. The company tries toreach its target customer segments by means of advertising, promotions,public relations and partnerships and also use affiliated Websites toattract customers. Affiliate or associate programs pay commissions topeople or companies that refer visitors to their products or services.Thus conclusion is, Get the customer's attention, Attract customers toevaluate the company's value proposition, Get known in the market. InEvaluation Phase: Once a customer has identified a specific firm as apotential solution provider to his problem or his needs he will want tolearn more about the organization and the bundle of products andservices it offers. Besides traditional sales forces or value addedresellers (VAR), companies increasingly make use of multimediaapplications to help customers in their evaluation process. Severaltools, such as Online Chat, Voice-over-IP or Web cams streamline theconsulting process and may make physical face-to-face contactunnecessary. Further, customers may also want to rely on moreindependent information from user communities or consumer groups. Thusconclusion is, Match customer needs with the company's valueproposition, Reduce the customer's search costs—inform and advise himand give him access to user communities, Let the customer test the valueproposition. Next Purchase Phase: During the purchase phase the actualtransaction takes place. This includes negotiation, decision, contract,order & tracking, billing & payment and fulfillment. Whereasnegotiation, decision and contracting are very important in B2B they areless significant in B2C. However, electronic channels may help tostreamline the purchasing process and add value through “memorizing”customer information or through real-time order tracking. Thusconclusion is, improve the transaction process, and Make purchase andfulfillment more convenient for the customer, Create additional valuethrough tools, such as order tracking. In After sales Phase: This lastphase of the buying cycle has the potential to create loyal customers.After sales services enormously contribute to a customer's satisfactionby helping him maximize profiting from the value proposition and byassisting him in case of problems. It can embrace implementation, use,training, maintenance, monitoring, troubleshooting and reverse logistics(i.e. disposal). Thus conclusion is, Don't’ “forget” the customer afterthe transaction, Provide additional value through tools, such aselectronic manuals, FAQs and customer support.

Several other interfaces may be provided to enable management of variousBrand Network Page promotions, various embodiments of which areillustrated in FIGS. 13-18. In one embodiment, screen 1701 of FIG. 17may be employed to manage alerts. That is, a mechanism can be providedfor the Brand Network's Administrators to broadcast system wide, e.g.,members and administrators, or targeted, e.g., BSN wide users, alertmessages. When text is typed into Alerts interface, it will immediatelypublish to user Brand Network Pages and Administrator's Home. If no textis typed in, no alert will appear.

The above specification, examples, example interface screens, and dataprovide a complete description of the manufacture and use of thecomposition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for associating oneor more structured and categorised tags or meta tags with contents, themethod comprising: enabling a user to select, capture, record, edit andprepare one or more types of contents, wherein one or more types ofcontent comprises text, audio, video, photo, file, location informationand any combination thereof; presenting the one or more structured andcategories tags includes presenting a user interface that includes theone or more tags, wherein tags comprises system or user or user ofnetwork or expert created structured and categories tags; enabling theuser to select one or more tags from said categories list of tags forassociating or relating or assigning said selected one or more tags withsaid prepared content; receiving input from the user indicating anassociation between content and at least one of the tags and in responseto the input representing the association, associating the content andat least one of the tags; storing association data representing theassociation between the content and at least one of the tags; andpresenting the structured and categories tags includes presenting a userinterface that includes structured and categories tags for enablingviewing user to view user selected tag specific contents.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein enabling first user tocreate and provide one or more tags; store one or more tags provided byfirst user; enabling second user to create and provide one or more tags;store one or more said provided by second user.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein enabling third user toset privacy and control where to publish content with associated one ormore tags.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 whereinreceiving the first content from the first user; and posting orpublishing the first content under selected one or more tags related toselected category.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 whereinenabling users of network to view categories tags specific contentsposted by users of network.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim1 wherein displaying the first content and at least one of thecategories tags including at least one of the hyperlinked categoriestags.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein enable userto view and access hyperlinking tags, wherein in the event of accessinga tag, displaying said accessed tag specific contents.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein presenting the one ormore structured and categories tags includes presenting a user interfacethat includes the one or more structured and categories tags based onsearch query.
 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 identifyingone or more tags using the input from user including search keyword. 10.The computer-implemented method of claim 1 receiving input of a selectedone of the one or more tags from the user and displaying selected one ormore tags specific contents published by users of network underparticular one or more tags.
 11. A computer-implemented system forassociating one or more structured and categorised tags or meta tagswith contents, the system comprises: enable a user to select, capture,record, edit and prepare one or more types of contents, wherein one ormore types of content comprises text, audio, video, photo, file,location information and any combination thereof; present the one ormore structured and categories tags includes presenting a user interfacethat includes the one or more tags, wherein tags comprises system oruser or user of network or expert created structured and categoriestags; enable the user to select one or more tags from said categorieslist of tags for associating or relating or assigning said selected oneor more tags with said prepared content; receive input from the userindicating an association between content and at least one of the tagsand in response to the input representing the association, associatingthe content and at least one of the tags; store association datarepresenting the association between the content and at least one of thetags; and present the structured and categories tags includes presentinga user interface that includes structured and categories tags forenabling viewing user to view user selected tag specific contents. 12.The computer-implemented system of claim 11 wherein first user isconfigured to create and provide one or more tags; store one or moretags provided by first user; second user is configured to create andprovide one or more tags; store one or more said provided by seconduser.
 13. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 wherein third useris configured to set privacy and control where to publish content withassociated one or more tags.
 14. The computer-implemented system ofclaim 11 wherein receive the first content from the first user; and postor publish the first content under selected one or more tags related toselected category.
 15. The computer-implemented system of claim 11wherein enable users of network to view categories tags specificcontents posted by users of network.
 16. The computer-implemented systemof claim 11 wherein display the first content and at least one of thecategories tags including at least one of the hyperlinked categoriestags.
 17. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 wherein enableuser to view and access hyperlinking tags, wherein in the event ofaccessing a tag, display said accessed tag specific contents.
 18. Thecomputer-implemented system of claim 11 wherein present the one or morestructured and categories tags includes present a user interface thatincludes the one or more structured and categories tags based on searchquery.
 19. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 identify one ormore tags using the input from user including search keyword.
 20. Thecomputer-implemented system of claim 11 receive input of a selected oneof the one or more tags from the user and display selected one or moretags specific contents published by users of network under particularone or more tags.